HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

St. George Flag

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2007,  Official Report, column 584W, to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on the St. George flag, for what health and safety reasons access to the flagpole on Portcullis House is denied; and for how long it has been non-operational.

Nick Harvey: A recent health and safety report identified the following risks.
	Access to the flag pole is by ladder but there is no safe means of passing the flag up the ladder; the flag raiser needs to climb over a ventilation duct; lighting is poor and there is no emergency lighting. In addition there are heavy hatch doors with no means of preventing closure and no harness anchorage points.
	The flagpole has been used only once since Portcullis House was opened when it was found to be dangerous and it has been non operational since September 2000. Means of rectifying the health and safety risks are being looked into and when the costs are known a decision will be taken on whether to fly flags from this location. If it is decided to do so, the aim will be to complete the necessary modifications by summer 2007.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Advocacy Services

John Hayes: To ask the Solicitor-General how much purchasing advocacy services from  (a) self-employed barristers and  (b) in-house services cost in 2005-06.

Mike O'Brien: In 2005-06 the Law Officers' Departments spent the following amounts on preparation and presentation in the Crown court and higher courts.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Department  Advocacy services from private sector barristers  In-house advocacy 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 140.30 3.36 
			 Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Service 15.70 0.38 
			 Serious Fraud Office 2.03 (1)— 
			 (1) The Serious Fraud Office does not employ in-house barristers. 
		
	
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), spent some £14 million on civil advocacy services, most of which is recovered from other Departments, which instructed TSol. It is not possible separately to identify the cost of the small amount of advocacy done by in-house TSol barristers.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Recruitment Agencies

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Electoral Commission paid recruitment agencies for the hire of temporary staff in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission came into existence on 30 November 2000. It informs me that the total amount paid to recruitment agencies for the hire of temporary staff in each financial year from 2002-03 is as shown in the table. These amounts include the remuneration paid to the temporary staff and the agency fees.
	
		
			   Expenditure (£) 
			 2006-07 (1)400,000 
			 2005-06 602,000 
			 2004-05 440,000 
			 2003-04 380,000 
			 2002-03 231,000 
			 (1) Forecast 
		
	
	The equivalent figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are not readily available. In 2000-01, the commission's total expenditure on recruitment, agency staff, and training was £84,270. In 2001-02, payments to recruitment agencies were not recorded separatelyfrom payments to other organisations in respect of secondees, and total expenditure under this combined heading was £190,000.

WALES

British Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of food served in buildings occupied by his Department was of British origin in  (a) 2005 and (b) 2006.

Peter Hain: My office does not have in house catering.

Recruitment Agencies

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has paid to recruitment agencies for the hire of temporary staff in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office spent £99,199 on agency staff in 2004-05 and £91,914 in 2005-06.
	Information for previous years was not kept in this format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

A50

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a quieter road surface on the A50 between Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter.

Stephen Ladyman: The most recent estimate (at 2005 prices) for replacement of the concrete surface on this length of A50 was in excess of £9.9 million. There is no scheme programmed for resurfacing the A50 between Blythe Bridge and Uttoxeter in the foreseeable future, so no current estimate is available.

Buses

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of buses in service in the public transport system in England.

Gillian Merron: The average age of the fleet in England at 31 March 2006 was 8.2 years. This information was published on page 6 in DfT's "Public Transport Statistics Bulletin GB: 2006 Edition Supplement", a copy of which is in the House Library.

Buses: Bedfordshire

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what level of Government funding was provided to Bedfordshire county council to support the provision of rural bus services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to support the provision of bus services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to promote the use of rural based community bus services; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure pensioners in rural areas have access to free or concessionary bus travel; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what representations his Department has received on proposals to reduce the provision of bus services in rural areas of Bedfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department has supported the provision of bus services in rural areas by the introduction in 1998 of the rural bus subsidy grant (RBSG), a grant paid to local transport authorities according to numbers living in rural areas. A total of £393 million has been allocated to authorities over the period 1998-99 to 2006-07.
	In addition, a total of £110 million has been awarded to authorities successful in Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competitions held from 1998 to 2003. This scheme has encouraged the development of innovative solutions to meeting rural transport needs. Many of the 300 projects initially supported by RBC funding are now continuing with mainstream funding from local authorities and other sources.
	A further step of particular relevance to rural areas has been the introduction of amended rules for the route registration of local bus services which has enabled the introduction of flexibly routed, demand responsive bus services. These services are also now eligible for bus service operators grant (BSOG) from the Department.
	The following table shows the Department's spending on grants to Bedfordshire county council under the RBSG and RBC schemes.
	
		
			   RBSG/RBC spend (£ million) 
			 1998-99 0.44 
			 1999-2000 0.44 
			 2000-01 0.44 
			 2001-02 0.68 
			 2002-03 0.74 
			 2003-04 0.91 
			 2004-05 1.74 
			 2005-06 1.29 
			 2006-07(1) 1.27 
			 (1) Estimated. 
		
	
	It should be noted that the majority of support for local bus services is provided by local authorities using the Government's revenue support grant (RSG) and authorities' own resources. It is for each authority to decide how much of their RSG allocation to devote to bus support. I understand Bedfordshire county council is currently considering to what extent it can fund substitute services following an announcement of planned service changes by Stagecoach.
	Many of the projects supported under the RBC have been community-based services. In addition, in 2002 we extended eligibility to receive BSOG to a wide range of community transport services. A total of over £4 million annually is now paid to such services of which approximately £0.15 million is to community transport operators in Bedfordshire. Our bus policy document "Putting Passengers First", published in December, proposes a number of further measures to assist community transport provision.
	From April this year, older and disabled people have been guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel within their local authority area. From April 2008, this will be extended further allowing free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
	We have received no recent representations on proposed changes to rural bus services in Bedfordshire.

Buses: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many bus routes were cancelled in Essex in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many new bus routes were started in Essex in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The information is not available without incurring disproportionate costs. Essex county council have advised that they hold back copies of their quarterly (previously monthly) publication "Passenger Transport News" which contain details for all bus service changes in the county of Essex.

Lifebelts: River Thames

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responsibility his Department has for the renewal and maintenance of lifebelts along the River Thames.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has no responsibility for the renewal and maintenance of lifebelts, which are provided at the discretion of a mix of private and public land owners.

Overseas Lorries

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of lorries with overseas licence plates which used UK roads in each of the last two years and  (b) the miles travelled on UK roads by those lorries.

Stephen Ladyman: In 2004, 1.4 million foreign registered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travelled to mainland Europe from Great Britain, while in 2005 the figure was 1.5 million vehicles. It is not possible to provide a UK estimate since information on foreign vehicles leaving Northern Ireland via the Irish Land Boundary is not available.
	The Department for Transport estimated that in 2003, the last year for which figures are available, foreign registered HGVs travelled 0.9 billion kilometres in Great Britain.

Parton-Lilyhall Bypass

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the A595 Parton-Lillyhall bypass will cost; when the scheme will be completed; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the bypass on Copeland.

Stephen Ladyman: The cost for the A595 Parton to Lillyhall scheme is £35.2 million. The scheme is due to be completed in winter 2008.
	An environmental statement and an economic impact report have been published for the scheme, which includes the Copeland hinterland, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Safety Cameras

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Safety Camera Partnerships accounts for 2005-06 will be published on his Department's website.

Stephen Ladyman: It is expected that these will be published on the Department's website today, 24 January.

Vehicle Register

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests for access to data from the UK vehicle register have been made by private companies since 1 November 2006; and how many of these requests have been turned down.

Stephen Ladyman: Between 1 November 2006 and 31 December 2006 we received 184,483 requests for data from private companies and from private individuals. We cannot distinguish between these groups without manual examination of the papers and therefore without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Nor can we say how many requests from private companies were rejected in that period.

Vehicle Register

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations have been given approved conditional access to data from the UK vehicle register.

Stephen Ladyman: No organisation has yet been given approved conditional access since the new measures were introduced on 1 November 2006. Any organisation wanting access to data electronically will need to become a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA) and to comply with that association's code of practice that will have clear and enforceable rules governing the business, procedures of their members. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is currently discussing ATA status with several companies.

SCOTLAND

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters to his Department sent from hon. Members during Session 2005-06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) over six months old.

David Cairns: No letters sent to the Scotland Office from hon. Members during the 2005-06 Session remain unanswered.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members' Peers' correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 75-78WS. Information relating to 2006 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready.

Devolution

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution matters the Advocate-General has considered.

David Cairns: Since 12 December 2006, 74 devolution issues have been intimated to the Advocate-General. Of these 74 devolution issues, 54 related to civil proceedings and 20 related to criminal proceedings.

Freedom of Information

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he uses to determine which responses to freedom of information requests are made available on his Department's website.

David Cairns: All information that is released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is published on the Scotland Office's website, unless it is available elsewhere in the public domain. I acknowledge there was an unintentional delay in our doing so for my recent reply to the hon. Member about travelling costs of Scotland Office staff.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Television

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of homes in Morecambe and Lunesdale which have digital television.

Shaun Woodward: Presently, the vast majority of households in the constituency should be able to receive digital TV services via either digital satellite or digital terrestrial (Freeview).
	Ofcom estimate that from switchover (which will take place during 2009 in the Granada region), coverage of digital terrestrial television will be increased to substantially match that currently achieved by analogue services (this is taken to equate to 98.5 per cent. of UK households).

Historic Churches

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust on funding to protect historic churches; when she last met the trust; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The chair of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust attended an ecclesiastical heritage event hosted by the Department in December 2005.
	In March 2006 I received a copy of the trust's 2005 review of the year.
	The chief executive of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust was a signatory to a letter jointly signed by representatives of nine organisations, in support of English Heritage's Inspired campaign on funding for historic churches, received in June 2006.
	As Minister for Culture, I attended a meeting hosted by the chair of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust in July 2006, at which representatives of many church heritage bodies were present.
	The Government recognise the important role played by the Historic Churches Preservation Trust in raising and making available funding for the repair and conservation of historic church buildings.

National Lottery

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been distributed to the heritage sector from the National Lottery in each year since 1997; and through which bodies it has been distributed.

Tessa Jowell: The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is the sole, UK-wide Lottery distributing body for the heritage good cause. Total Lottery expenditure by the HLF in each of the last nine financial years is given in the following table. This includes money drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund to meet the bodies' administrative expenses. Details of individual grants, supplied by each Lottery distributor, can be found on the Department's Lottery Grants Database, searchable at
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	
		
			   Expenditure in £ million, rounded to nearest £1 million 
			 1997-98 133 
			 1998-99 196 
			 1999-2000 277 
			 2000-01 290 
			 2001-02 262 
			 2002-03 265 
			 2003-04 324 
			 2004-05 308 
			 2005-06 374

National Lottery

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been distributed to the arts from the National Lottery in each year since 1997; and through which bodies it has been distributed.

Tessa Jowell: Lottery funds are distributed to the arts good cause by six bodies. These are Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts Council of Wales, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the UK Film Council and Scottish Screen. However, other Lottery distributors may sometimes make awards which are arts-related, for example the Heritage Lottery Fund for the acquisition or retention of a work of arts in a UK museum or gallery.
	Total Lottery expenditure by the six arts Lottery distributors in each of the last nine financial years is given in the following table. This includes money drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund to meet the bodies' administrative expenses. Details of individual grants, supplied by each Lottery distributor, can be found on the Department's Lottery grants database, searchable at
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	
		
			   Expenditure in £ million, rounded to nearest £1 million 
			 1997-98 356 
			 1998-99 366 
			 1999-2000 259 
			 2000-01 272 
			 2001-02 275 
			 2002-03 246 
			 2003-04 295 
			 2004-05 298 
			 2005-06 275

Pigeon Racing

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on granting pigeon racing official recognition as a sport; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Decisions on whether particular activities and pastimes should be recognised as sports are made by unanimous agreement between the home country sports councils. As such it would be inappropriate for Government to intervene. Any decisions to fund recognised sports are made by the individual home country sports councils.
	I can confirm that Sport England has not received any representations to recognise pigeon racing as a sport. In the first instance, I would recommend a submission to the relevant Sports Council, outlining the case for recognising pigeon racing. Sport England will be able to provide information on the criteria for recognition of an activity as a sport.

Recruitment Agencies

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money was paid by her Department to recruitment agencies for the hire of temporary staff in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has paid recruitment agencies the amounts in the following table in each year since 1997:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 278,618.91 
			 1998-99 482,465.39 
			 1999-2000 456,230.03 
			 2000-01 386,498.94 
			 2001-02 409,743.71 
			 2002-03 512,869.85 
			 2003-04 451,750.43 
			 2004-05 496,585.32 
			 2005-06 1,147,515.76 
			 2006-07 (1)1,069,662.09 
			 (1 )To 19 January 2007. 
		
	
	These sums are inclusive of the full salary costs of the temporary staff.

Television Licences

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that TV Licensing behaves in a proportionate manner when dealing with households which do not have a TV licence.

Shaun Woodward: The BBC's Royal Charter contains a specific duty for the BBC Trust to ensure that the arrangements for the collection of the licence fee are efficient, appropriate and proportionate.

Television Licences

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Government provide TV Licensing with data to aid in the detection and prosecution of licence evaders.

Shaun Woodward: The Government provide no personal data to TV Licensing to aid in the detection and prosecution of licence evaders.

Television Licences

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will discuss with the BBC free television licences for citizens aged over 70.

Shaun Woodward: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to do so. For the reasons set out in the BBC Charter Review White Paper published in March 2006, the Government have no plans to extend the availability of free TV licences.

Television Licences

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners in Livingston constituency have received a free television licence in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Livingston constituency in 2005-06 was 3,480, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

Television Licences

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether TV Licensing keeps up-to-date records of the legal occupiers of a property as well as whether a valid licence is held for that property;
	(2)  which part of the UK the most TV licence evaders were caught in the last 12 months; and what percentage that figure represents of all households in that area;
	(3)  whether TV Licensing has access to data held by other Government departments to aid them in tracking licence evaders;
	(4)  whether TV Licensing has  (a) identified and  (b) applied more resources to the (i) areas and (ii) households that most consistently evade the television licensing authorities.

Shaun Woodward: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration under contract to the Corporation. I have asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make ex-gratia payments to the families of those Afghan civilians shot in Kandahar in early December 2003.

Des Browne: holding answer 8 January 2007
	We have no plans to make ex-gratia payments in connection with the incident on 3 December 2006 in Kandahar, when an International Security Assistance Force convoy came under attack from a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. We have conducted a full investigation into the incident which concluded that the British forces involved acted properly and within their rules of engagement.
	The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also produced a report on the incident, which includes a number of recommendations relating to future incidents of this kind. We have measures in place to address some of these recommendations. Members of the UK Task Force have also met with members of the Government of Afghanistan to review how current practices can be improved.

Boarding School Allowances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the information on boarding school allowances paid to members of the armed forces, broken down by rank, which could not be made available to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South due to disproportionate cost, as referred to in the answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 801-2W, on boarding school allowance, could be supplied in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 of 1 September 2005, reference 090717-002; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 801-2W, asked for information covering the last five years. The only year that the information had been held separated into officers and other ranks was 2005-06 and the same information for the previous years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost due to work being undertaken to transit from the three legacy systems to JPA—joint personnel administration system.
	 Information for 2005-06
	Number of service children currently being educated utilising the MOD's Boarding School Allowance Scheme:
	As at the spring term 2005, Service Education Allowances were being paid for 7,914 children.
	The breakdown of service claimants is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Royal Navy 1,377 
			 Royal Air Force 2,257 
			 Army 4,280 
		
	
	The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from commissioned officer's families:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Royal Navy 920 
			 Royal Air Force 1,286 
			 Army 2,675 
		
	
	The number of children in receipt of Education Allowances from all ratings, non-commissioned officer's (NCO) and other ranks families:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Royal Navy 457 
			 Royal Air Force 971 
			 Army 1,605

Defence Training Review

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risks he expects to be transferred to the private sector as part of the Defence Training Review.

Derek Twigg: As with other PFI projects, the Defence Training Review (DTR) Contractor will take responsibility for the standard risks associated with a PFI project such as performance and cost risks including: design; construction and whole-life maintenance; non-discriminatory change in the law; town and country planning; commissioning and certification; and loss or damage to assets. In addition and by virtue of the training-specific nature of the DTR programme, risks relating to training will also be transferred. For example the contractor will be paid on the basis of student throughput and against pre-agreed target pass rates for courses.

EU and NATO Missions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops were engaged in  (a) European Security and Defence Policy and  (b) NATO missions in each year between 2003 and 2006; and how many are expected to be so engaged in 2007.

Des Browne: The table shows the number of troops engaged in European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and NATO missions in each year between 2003 and 2006.
	The figures for 2007 are given as at 14 January 2007, but are subject to future Periodic Mission Review. As military operations remain fluid and we are unable to predict if there will be additional NATO or ESDP missions, it is not possible to state how many troops are expected to be engaged on such missions in 2007.
	
		
			   NATO( 1)  ESDP( 2) 
			 2003 4,305 84 
			 2004 3,281 950 
			 2005 2,720 950 
			 2006 4,281 654 
			 2007(3) 6,360 654 
			 (1) Derived from averaging weekly deployed totals over the year. NATO figures include Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. (2) Maximum deployed during year. (3) The spot figures given as at 14 January 2007 are subject to future Periodic Mission Review.

EU and NATO Missions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff in the Ministry of Defence work on EU defence co-operation.

Des Browne: Within the MOD, eight people work exclusively on European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), although these dedicated staff draw on the support of other personnel across the MOD who devote varying proportions of their time to particular aspects of ESDP as required. Officers in their management chain also devote a portion of their time to this issue.
	Additionally the UK Military Representation to the EU in Brussels comprises nine MOD staff. Two MOD staff are also seconded to the UK diplomatic representation to the EU to work on ESDP.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many information technology projects within the responsibility of his Department, its agencies and their predecessors have been cancelled since 1997; what the total cost was of each project at cancellation; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Japanese Internment

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation by British civilians interned by the Japanese have been paid under the 20 year attachment to the UK rule; how many remain to be paid; why he introduced the rule; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: It is a requirement of the Government's ex-gratia payment scheme for former far east prisoners of war and civilian internees that claimants be able to demonstrate a close link with the UK. This was initially based on normal residence in the UK before the war. In 2001, eligibility was extended to include the birth link criterion, which it was accepted in 2006 was unlawful. The 20-year residence criterion was introduced earlier in 2006 to extend eligibility to former internees who could demonstrate that they had established a close link to the UK after the war, on the basis of residence.
	As at December, the Veterans Agency had written to 916 claimants whom they identified as being potential beneficiaries under the 20-year residency criterion. 513 responses had been received and 129 awards made. In 301 cases, the claimant had advised that they were not eligible. 11 cases had been rejected for reasons other than residency (for example the claimant was not British at the time of internment). Nine cases were on hold pending a final decision and 45 others were being processed.

Japanese Internment

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with his proposal to establish a hardship fund for British civilian prisoners of the Japanese who could not be paid compensation under the 20 year rule; how many claimants fall into this category; and what investigations are being made into their cases.

Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 89-90W.

Protective Clothing

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many front-line personnel have been issued with flame retardant camouflage clothing.

Adam Ingram: None. The standard issue tri-service uniform, Combat Soldier 95 (CS95), and its desert equivalent have not been designed with flame retardant properties as operational analysis has shown that the soldier on the battlefield faces a minimal risk from burn injuries.
	Specialist fire retardant clothing is issued to personnel in specific roles where there is a known fire risk (e.g. armoured vehicle crews).

Reserves

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual strength of the (i) Territorial Army, (ii) Royal Naval Reserve, (iii) Royal Marines Reserve and (iv) Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Derek Twigg: The available requirement and strength data are given as follows.
	
		
			   1997( 1)  2006( 2) 
			   Requirement  Strength( 3)  Requirement  Strength( 3) 
			 Territorial Army(4) 59,000 56,200 42,000 35,940 
			 Royal Naval Reserve(5) n/a 2,670 2,900 2,180 
			 Royal Marines Reserve(5) n/a 890 990 710 
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force(6) 2,250 1,740 2,220 (7)1,460 
			 n/a = not available (1) Royal Auxiliary Air Force data are at 1 January 1999. All others at 1 April 1997. (2) Territorial Army (TA) data are at 1 November 2006. Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) data and Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) data are at 1 October 2006. Royal Auxiliary Air Force Requirement data are at 1 April 2006. Royal Auxiliary Air Force Strength data are at 1 October 2006. (3) Strength figures are for both trained and untrained personnel. (4) The 1997 figures exclude Mobilised TA personnel as the reserve type cannot be easily identified. There were a total of 990 Mobilised Personnel (Volunteer and Regular Reserve) at 1 April 1997. The 2006 figures include 1,060 Mobilised TA Personnel. All TA figures include Officer Training Corps (OTC) and exclude Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS) and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). At 1 November 2006 there were 4,910 capbadged OTC personnel. (5) RNR and RMR strength figures exclude FTRS. (6) The Royal Auxiliary Air Force Requirement includes FTRS Home Commitment (HC) and Limited Commitment (LC); the Strength includes FTRS (HC), (LC) and Full Commitment (FC) (for which there is no separate requirement). (7 )Provisional. Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system for RAF, all RAF data from 1 May 20O6 are provisional and subject to review.

Separation Allowances

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to question 98165, tabled by the hon. Member for North-East Milton Keynes, on the time taken to reply to question 94388 tabled by the hon. Member for North-East Milton Keynes, on separation allowances, for named day answer on 16 October 2006.

Des Browne: holding answer 8 January 2007
	I regret that due to an administrative oversight I was unable to answer these questions before the House prorogued on 8 November 2006.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which of the executive agencies of her Department have regional offices outside London.

Vera Baird: Both Her Majesty's Courts Service and the Tribunals Service have regional offices outside London. The Public Guardianship Office does not have a regional office outside London.

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which executive agencies are the responsibility of her Department; what the function is of each agency; and what the budget was of each agency in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for three executive agencies: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), the Tribunals Service and the Public Guardianship Office (PGO). Details of the functions and budgets of HMCS and the PGO can be found in their annual reports, copies of which are in the Library and which are also on-line at:
	http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/annual_reports.htm
	and
	http://www.guardianship.gov.uk/downloads/Annual_ Report_2005-06.Final.pdf
	respectively. The Tribunals Service was created as an executive agency in April 2006 and has not yet, therefore, produced an annual report. Its function is to provide support to the judiciary and tribunal users to ensure the impartial and efficient operation of the tribunals it administers. In the 2006-07 Winter Supplementary the Tribunals Service had a resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) of £270,987,000 and a Capital DEL of £3,903,000.

Legal Aid

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the poorest people requiring legal assistance of the recommendations on changes of legal aid fees made by the Carter Review of legal aid procurement.

Vera Baird: The Government's proposals, set out in "Legal Aid Reform: the Way Ahead", will ensure that legal aid continues to be available for those people who require legal assistance. The reforms will ensure that legal aid spending can be placed on a sustainable footing and spending rebalanced between civil, family and criminal legal aid. This will be of particular benefit to the vulnerable and those facing social exclusion.

Legal Aid

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations her Department has received since November 2006 on the level of fees set for civil legal aid solicitors arising from the Carter Review of legal aid procurement; what meetings have been held with the Law Society on the Carter Review recommendations; what the outcome was of such meetings; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: As at 19 January 2007, the Department had received 80 representations since November 2006 on civil and family legal aid solicitors' fees. There have been extensive discussions with the Law Society and other key stakeholders. These are being taken into account in further work by the Department and the Legal Services Commission.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by her Department; what the function is of each body; and what the budget was of each body in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs can be found in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 2006", copies of which are in the Library and which is also available online at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2006.pdf

Postal Ballots

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what advice her Department has given to post offices on employment of local and national election candidates working in its establishments and their contact with postal ballots.

Bridget Prentice: My Department does not issue guidance to post offices on the employment of individuals who choose to stand as candidates at local or national elections. The Electoral Commission produces a code of conduct which sets out guidance on how candidates and their agents should behave during an election campaign. This includes guidance on the handling of postal vote applications and ballot papers.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist displaced persons in Iraq.

Gareth Thomas: I can tell the House that we have just agreed a £4 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross to continue to provide protection and emergency assistance, including water and medical supplies. This brings our total humanitarian contribution to over £120 million since 2003.

Afghanistan

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: Between 2001 and March 2006 DFID spent over £390 million on reconstruction and development. DFID's programme focuses on building effective state institutions; improving economic management and supporting rural livelihoods. The best way to do this is by helping the Afghans help themselves—which is why over 70 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan.

International Corruption

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on combating corruption in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: I frequently discuss the fight against corruption with my international counterparts.
	For example, last year I had extensive discussions with the President of the World Bank on combating corruption. I also talked to the Chief Ministers of the Overseas Territories at their Consultative Council meeting in November. I also discuss the issue with Ministers in our partner countries.

International Corruption

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his role as ministerial champion for addressing international corruption.

Hilary Benn: Ministers approved the UK anti-corruption action plan in July 2006. The plan aims to improve the UK's capacity to investigate foreign bribery, stop money laundering and recover stolen assets, promote responsible business conduct in developing countries and support international efforts to fight corruption. I shall report on progress to the Prime Minister in February.

Malaria

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of bed nets to prevent malaria in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: DFID provides considerable support for the purchase and distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) through, for example, direct support for country-level ITN programmes and through our support to multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the Roll Back Malaria partnership, UNICEF and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which all help finance the purchase and distribution of ITNs in developing countries.

South America

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the potential role for the formation of a community of South American nations in the economic development of the poorest countries of that continent.

Gareth Thomas: The formation of a community of South American nations is still at an early stage. We support moves towards regional integration on the basis that it provides important opportunities for economic development, including for poorer nations. The exact path to regional integration, including how the Community of South American Nations will evolve, is a matter for South Americans themselves to determine.

German G8 Presidency

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he plans to promote the importance of international development during the German presidency of the G8.

Hilary Benn: I welcome Germany's plan to focus on Africa and development during its G8 and EU presidencies. We fully support the priority given to governance, economic growth, peace and security and HIV/AIDS, and will be working closely with our German colleagues to make progress on these issues. We will also continue to push for progress in other crucial areas such as education, trade and aid volumes.

Drinking Water: Africa

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to increase access to clean drinking water in Africa.

Hilary Benn: Sub-Sahara Africa is the region where the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on water and sanitation are most off-track. In March 2005 I committed to double DFID's support to water and sanitation in Africa to £95 million a year by 2007-08 and more than double funding again to £200 million a year by 2010-11.
	We are making good progress towards achieving this target. We have significantly increased our water and sanitation programmes, focusing on countries where current access levels are particularly low. DFID is providing £6 million to the African Development Bank's Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative, with a target of achieving 80 per cent. rural access to water supply and sanitation by 2015. In Ethiopia we are developing a new £100 million programme to provide water and sanitation to 4 million people. Programmes in DRC, Sudan, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda are expanding.

Burma

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department provided to Burma in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The most recent period for which figures are available is financial year 2005-06, in which DFID spent £6,437,793 on reducing poverty in Burma. The largest disbursements were to (i) the Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar for provision of HIV/AIDS treatment, (ii) the BBC World Service Trust project to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, (iii) the Thai-Burma Border Consortium for assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand, (iv) the UN's Human Development Initiative which provides small-scale improvements in rural technologies and infrastructure, and (v) to the International Committee of the Red Cross for humanitarian and protection work in prisons and in eastern Burma.

Carbon Emissions

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department began to measure its carbon emissions; what the volume of those emissions was in the last period for which figures are available; when his Department started to offset those emissions; what the cost is expected to be of offsetting his Department's emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID began to measure carbon emissions from our UK buildings in 1999, vehicles in 2003 and air travel in 2004. The latest figures we have for carbon emissions are as follows:
	
		
			  2005-06 
			   Tonnes of CO 2 
			 Buildings 4,109 
			 Air Travel 17,352 
			 Vehicles 57 
		
	
	DFID is committed to the new sustainable operations targets which include a commitment for a carbon neutral central Government office estate by 2012. All Government air travel has been captured under the Government Carbon Offsetting Scheme since April 2006.
	DFID proposes to achieve carbon neutrality through a package of measures including renewable energy on site (we are currently working with the Carbon Trust to agree the best technology for our UK estate); implementing further energy saving measures into both buildings, and further upgrading of our award winning video-conferencing facilities to make further savings on air/rail travel. DFID will only offset unavoidable carbon emissions that result after all economically viable carbon savings have been made, so it is not currently possible to estimate what the cost of offsetting will be.

Congo Brazzaville

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Congo Brazzaville on  (a) good governance and  (b) corruption;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Government of Congo Brazzaville on  (a) oil exploration,  (b) environmental protection,  (c) oil sector management and  (d) the use of oil revenues to fund development;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in Congo Brazzaville.

Hilary Benn: Corruption remains a serious problem in the Republic of Congo. Transparency International's survey last year rated the country 142 of 163 states. A particular area of concern, despite the Congo-Brazzaville Government having made a statement of support for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), is the management of natural resource revenues, which lacks transparency and attracts widespread NGO criticism. Campaigners against corruption in the country have faced harassment from state officials. The British embassy has raised concerns on several occasions with the Congo-Brazzaville Government, and requested more information about the brief detention last year of two members of the Publish What You Pay Coalition who have been effective advocates of EITI locally.
	The UK also discusses governance issues with the Congolese Government on a regular basis in conjunction with European partners and through the World Bank and IMF. The UK has made clear that the windfall received in increased oil revenues should be spent on poverty reduction. Economic issues and social development form part of the European Union's regular article 8 dialogue. EU missions frequently raise the need for increased transparency in the oil sector, particularly in the management of revenues.
	When the country qualified for assistance under the heavily indebted poor country (HIPC) initiative in February 2006, the UK, with the international community, insisted that interim debt relief be accompanied by—and conditional upon—a strict programme of governance reform. Congo's debt relief savings are maintained in a special account. Expenditures from this account are limited to agreed poverty-reducing categories and monitored by a committee comprising representatives in observer status from international donors and Congolese civil society. Under the HIPC agreement, interim debt relief could be withdrawn if Congo fails to maintain satisfactory performance.
	Furthermore, Congo agreed to implement a number of tough governance and anti-corruption reforms before it receives irrevocable debt stock cancellation under HIPC. These include the establishment of a national anti-corruption committee; the completion of a corruption diagnostic study by international experts; sustained, satisfactory performance under World Bank and IMF supervised programs; and successive annual audit opinions to confirm that the state oil company's accounts are in line with international best practice. There will be an annual review of progress, the first due to begin later this year, by the World Bank's Executive Board. Delivered in the right way, we hope that debt relief will help Republic of Congo, one of the world's most indebted and poorest countries, spend more on health, education and infrastructure.

Darfur

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that aid is available to those affected by the conflict in Darfur; and what representations he plans to make to the Sudanese authorities on safeguarding aid workers in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: As the UN statement of 17 January made clear, humanitarian agencies are struggling in exceptionally and increasingly difficult circumstances to deliver vital aid to those in need in Darfur. DFID funding is providing training for humanitarian agencies to prevent, mitigate and mange security risks to their staff. Through our contributions to the Common Humanitarian Fund, the UN also receives funding to help co-ordinate and respond to security incidents. Our overall level of funding remains high (we are the second largest bilateral donor to Darfur) and we have taken steps to ensure that our funding is as flexible as possible so our partners can better manage restrictions and relocations of their activities on the ground.
	At political level, we are working with all sides to the conflict to ensure the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate freely, securely and without constraint. We are calling on all sides to cease the violence immediately; renew the ceasefire and political process and accept the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.

Darfur

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many humanitarian workers and teams have withdrawn from Darfur; and what impact such withdrawal is having on his Department's operations in the area.

Hilary Benn: During the last six months, well over 400 humanitarian workers have been temporarily relocated or evacuated in 31 operations across Darfur. Only one agency has withdrawn completely from Darfur in the last two years, and that was done at the insistence of the Government of Sudan. Humanitarian agencies have found it increasingly difficult to maintain access to areas in need given the pervasive insecurity and attacks on their compounds and staff. Basic relief operations in large areas are being maintained by locally-hired staff. The strong efforts made by agencies have limited the impact of withdrawals to date, but without the specialist support and protection-by-presence of international staff, there are concerns that the quality of the work done may decline and the humanitarian conditions begin to deteriorate.
	DFID is providing funding to assist humanitarian agencies to prevent, mitigate and manage security risks to their staff. Through our contributions to the Common Humanitarian Fund, the UN also receives funding to help co-ordinate and respond to security incidents. In addition to this support, our partners receive flexible funding that enables them to manage restrictions and relocations of their activities on the ground.

Egypt

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department plans to give to Egypt in 2006-07.

Hilary Benn: DFID closed its main bilateral programme in Egypt in 2005 in line with its commitment to prioritise aid to the poorest countries in the world and has no plans to provide aid to Egypt in 2006-07. The UK will continue to support poverty reduction efforts in Egypt through our contributions to international institutions such as the European Commission (EC) by contributing €100.44 million as part of EC funding to Egypt over the next four years.

World Food Programme: Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government are providing to the World Food Programme in Somalia.

Hilary Benn: During 2006 the UK contributed £6.5 million to the World Food Programme's (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation in Somalia, approximately 8.0 per cent. of total donor contributions since January 2003.
	The UK is also the largest single contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), having contributed $82 million of the total of $343 million or 24 per cent. of total donor funding. The CERF has contributed $9.15 million for WFP humanitarian operations in Somalia since the beginning of 2006.
	The UK is also a major supporter of other aspects of humanitarian relief operations in Somalia. For example our support to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) assists in negotiating humanitarian access for other members of the international relief community including WFP.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Engagements

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates Ministers in his Department made official visits to the London boroughs of  (a) Tower Hamlets,  (b) Newham and  (c) Waltham Forest in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU-Mercosur Trade

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of trade is between the EU and Mercosur; and what the main sectors for growth are between the EU and Mercosur.

Ian McCartney: The level of trade between the top 20 EU markets and Mercosur full members totalled US$ 71,545 million in 2005. The following table shows the level of trade by imports and exports over the last three years.
	
		
			  US$ 
			   2003  2004  2005 
			 Mercosur imports from the EU 19,285 25,499 29,088 
			 Mercosur exports to the EU 30,548 37,191 42,457 
			 Totals 49,833 62,690 71,545 
		
	
	UK Trade and Investment's teams in Mercosur's foil member markets have identified the following as the main growth sectors in 2006-07.
	 Argentina
	Mining, agriculture, financial and legal services, oil and gas, creative and media.
	 Brazil
	Aerospace, agriculture, biotech/pharma, construction, creative/media, education/training, engineering, environment, financial and legal services, healthcare/medical, ICT, oil and gas, power, transport.
	 Paraguay
	Paraguay does not have any dedicated UKTI resource to deal with commercial enquiries. However, the dominant sector is agriculture.
	 Uruguay
	Uruguay's key growth sectors are agriculture, food and beverages, tobacco and chemical industries.
	 Venezuela
	Oil and gas, agriculture, construction, consumer goods, education and training, environment, financial services, ICT, power, security, tourism

Minimum Wage

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many  (a) workers were assisted by the National Minimum Wage helpline in recouping money underpaid by their employer and  (b) employers (i) were investigated, (ii) had enforcement orders issued to them and (iii) (A) were and (B) are subject to criminal proceedings for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage in Falkirk constituency in the last period for which figures are available; and which employers had enforcement orders issued to them.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	National minimum wage statistical data are not held by reference to constituency.

New Zealand Butter

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in import tax was levied on New Zealand butter in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006; and how much of the total was (i) retained by the UK authority and (ii) remitted to the European Union.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The amount of Customs Duty levied on imports of butter from New Zealand during the years specified was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004 1,910,121.86 
			 2005 25,595,073.90 
			 2006 25,292,635.52 
		
	
	Customs duties form part of the system of the European Communities' Own Resources member states are allowed to retain, by way of collection costs, 25 per cent. of the amounts collected, the remaining 75 per cent. being transferred to the European Commission.

New Zealand Butter

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of import tax per kilo was on New Zealand butter in 2006; and for what reasons the tax was levied.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU has a system of import tariffs. There is a fixed tariff on butter. However, as a result of an agreement between New Zealand and the EU (negotiated initially at the time of the UK's accession to the EEC), a current access quota allows New Zealand to import on an annual basis a set quantity of butter into the EU at a reduced tariff.
	During 2006 some 42,397,648.81 kg of New Zealand butter with a value of £4,055,281.39 was declared in the UK. The Customs duty paid totalled £25,292,635.52 or an average of 0.88 euros paid per kilo, based on the net weight.

North West Regional Development

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are employed by the Learning and Skills Council in Lancashire.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	Thirty-five people are employed at Lancashire Learning and Skills Council. As part of its recent restructuring exercise, the LSC has established four new local partnership teams in Lancashire. These teams will be roughly coterminous with existing local authority boundaries, and will strengthen the LSC's ability to work in partnership with local authorities and children's trusts, including on 14-19; and to support wider economic development through stronger links between jobs, training and skills.

Post Office Network

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the written answer of 16 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1034W, on post office funding, 
	(1)  when he expects to publish a detailed breakdown of his funding plan for the post office network;
	(2)  how much of the subsidy for the post office network announced on 14 December 2006 is for  (a) restructuring,  (b) modernisation,  (c) social network subsidy,  (d) new products and services and  (e) other support initiatives; and how much of the funding announced will be in (i) cash and (ii) non-cash items.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 23 January 2007
	The Government intend to provide up to £1.7 billion, subject to state aid clearance, between now and 2011 in support of the post office network.
	A detailed breakdown of our funding is not yet available and will be dependent, following the conclusion of Government's national consultation, on how Post Office Limited intends to implement the necessary restructuring of the network to meet the framework set by Government's proposals.

Royal Mail

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a decision on the proposal from Royal Mail's management for a share ownership scheme for the Royal Mail.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 22 January 2007
	There is no timetable for an announcement on a decision. We hope to be able to announce a decision soon.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Antrim Area Hospital

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the patient to nurse ratio is in general wards at Antrim Area hospital.

Paul Goggins: Information on the ratio of nurses to patients is not available. United Hospitals HSS Trust has provided the following information on the ratio of nurses per bed in general medical and surgical wards.
	 (a) There are 1.13 nurses per bed in general Medical wards at Antrim Area hospital. The number of beds in each ward range from 24-27.
	 (b) There are 1.04 nurses per bed in general Surgical wards at Antrim Area hospital. There are 27 beds in each ward.

CCTV: Londonderry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions there have been between the police in Londonderry and the Northern Ireland Office since August 2005 on resources for the installation of CCTV cameras at the Irish Street/Top of the Hill interface.

Peter Hain: Londonderry district command unit submitted an application for funding under the Town Centre CCTV Challenge Competition; as the application did not meet the eligibility criteria, the application was unsuccessful and applicants were advised accordingly.
	There have been no discussions between the police in Londonderry and the Northern Ireland Office since August 2005 on resources for the installation of CCTV cameras at the Irish Street/Top of the Hill interface.

Child Sex Offenders

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average  (a) sentence and  (b) time served by convicted child sex offenders in Northern Ireland was in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: Northern Ireland court proceedings and sentencing data sources do not include victim information in relation to the commission of an offence. It is therefore possible only to provide information for those offences which, by their definition, identify a child as the victim. Average sentence lengths (in months) for those convicted of and given immediate custody for sexual offences against children are given in the table. Data cover the calendar years 1995 to 2004, the latter being the most up-to-date available at present.
	It is not possible from the available data to determine the time served in custody by each individual sentenced.
	
		
			  Average immediate custodial sentence length in months for those convicted of sexual offences against children 1995-2004 
			  Offence  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004( 1) 
			 Gross indecency with child 11.8 4.0 0 21.0 0 18.4 18.0 13.5 27.6 16.7 
			 Buggery with boy under 16 years 0 0 0 0 0 24.0 24.0 72.0 84.0 106.5 
			 Buggery with girl 0 0 0 0 36.0 84.0 0 0 0 24.0 
			 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 0 24.0 60.0 0 10.0 23.0 108.0 48.0 60.0 20.0 
			 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 7.5 4.0 30.5 12.0 0 4.5 12.0 9.0 0 0 
			 Incest by man with female under 14 years 0 0 0 0 0 90.0 84.0 0 0 0 
			 Indecent assault on female child 0 0 0 46.0 54.0 19.6 14.5 15.0 16.0 18.0 
			 Indecent assault on male child 0 0 0 21.0 48.0 20.0 12.0 0 0 48.0 
			 Distributing indecent photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 7.5 14.0 36.0 0 12.0 
			 Possessing indecent photographs of child(ren) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.0 
			 Taking indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 84.0 8.0 24.0 7.0 
			 Copying indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12.0 
			 Making indecent photograph or pseudo photographs of children 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9.0 
			 (1) Excludes one person sentenced to Juvenile Justice Centre Order for indecent assault on male child.  Note: Data are collated on the principal offence rule; thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.

Correspondence

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to correspondence from the general public.

Peter Hain: The six national standards for central Government were introduced to the Northern Ireland Office and its Executive Agencies from April 1997.
	However, even though no longer formally monitored by the Cabinet Office, the Department continues to use the national standards as a way of ensuring it maintains a good customer service to the general public.
	One of the standards is to answer letters quickly and clearly, within a departmental target of 15 working days. Performance for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of letters received  Percentage in target 
			 NIO Core 2,026 89 
			 Northern Ireland Prison Service 1,079 98 
			 Forensic Science Northern Ireland 113 98 
			 The Compensation Agency 98,800 98 
			 Public Prosecution Service 117 93 
			 Youth Justice Agency 157 96 
		
	
	It should be noted that some parts of the Department impose a local target of replying to correspondence within 10 working days. In particular the Compensation Agency which has responded to a vast amount of correspondence during 2005.
	The performance in relation to this target is monitored on a regular basis.

Hoax Emergency Calls

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hoax calls were made to 999 in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The numbers of hoax calls received by Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for the last 10 calendar years are set out in the table as follows:
	
		
			   NI total 
			 1997 6,192 
			 1998 4,911 
			 1999 4,172 
			 2000 5,879 
			 2001 7,444 
			 2002 5,704 
			 2003 5,873 
			 2004 5,952 
			 2005 5,079 
			 2006 4,777 
		
	
	The numbers of hoax calls received by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), for each of the last eight financial years, are set out in the following table. NIAS cannot provide information prior to the 1999-2000 financial year. (Note: These figures include calls generated by Automated Fire Alarms).
	
		
			   NI total 
			 1999-2000 1,554 
			 2000-01 3,078 
			 2001-02 3,402 
			 2002-03 3,176 
			 2003-04 3,436 
			 2004-05 2,991 
			 2005-06 6,403 
			 2006-07 (9 months) 4,926 
		
	
	The numbers of hoax calls received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSN1) for the last five financial years are set out in the table as follows. Information prior to the 2002-03 financial year is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   NI total 
			 2002-03 531 
			 2003-04 681 
			 2004-05 850 
			 2005-06 927 
			 2006-07 (to 21 January 2007) 1,198

Mid-Ulster Hospital

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the patient to nurse ratio cover is in general wards at Mid-Ulster Hospital.

Paul Goggins: Information on the ratio of nurses to patients is not available. United Hospitals HSS Trust has provided the following information on the ratio of nurses per bed in general medical and surgical wards.
	There are 1.15 nurses per bed for general medical and surgical wards at the Mid-Ulster Hospital. There is a total of three general wards, two of which deal with medical/cardiology patients and one which deals with medical and surgical patients. The number of beds in each of the three wards ranges from 18-25.

Ministerial Interview

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the opinions on international affairs which he expressed in his interview published in the current issue of the  New Statesman represent the policies of Her Majesty's Government.

Peter Hain: The views I expressed in the  New Statesman about the need to work through multinational institutions and the pride I expressed on the Government's record since 1997 of trebling aid to Africa, leading the fight for trade justice, and lifting billions in debt off the poorest countries are shared across Government.

MRSA

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of MRSA were recorded in each hospital in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The number of patient episodes of MRSA bacteraemia reported by year and where possible by hospital over the last five years are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			Calendar year 
			  Trust  Hospital  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Altnagelvin Hospitals Altnagelvin Area Hospital 16 14 17 22 21 
			  Waterside Hospital (ward 5) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Belfast City Hospitals Belfast City (1)44 46 53 (2)47 39 
			  NICCO (Belvoir Park) (1)— 1 2 (2)— 0 
			 Causeway Causeway Hospital (3)4 12 9 (4)9 10 
			  Dalriada Hospital (3)— 0 0 (4)— 0 
			  Robinson Memorial Hospital (3)— 0 0 (4)— 0 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group Craigavon Area Hospital 11 13 22 22 19 
			  Lurgan Hospital 0 3 3 2 1 
			  South Tyrone Hospital 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Down Lisburn Downe Hospital (5)9 4 3 14 4 
			  Lagan Valley Hospital (5)— 2 9 3 3 
			 Greenpark Forster Green Hospital (6)0 (7)4 (8)5 (9)2 (10)3 
			  Musgrave Park Hospital (6)— (7)— (8)— (9)— (10)— 
			 Mater Mater Infirmorum Hospital 8 20 25 9 23 
			 Newry and Mourne Daisy Hill Hospital 5 4 10 5 3 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals RBHSC 0 0 1 1 1 
			  Royal Jubilee 0 0 4 2 2 
			  Royal Victoria Hospital 30 27 37 41 46 
			 Sperrin Lakeland Erne Hospital 3 0 10 3 2 
			  Tyrone County Hospital 2 3 5 13 4 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Ards Hospital (11)13 0 1 0 0 
			  Bangor Hospital (11)— 1 0 0 0 
			  Ulster Hospital (11)— 24 22 34 25 
			 United Hospitals Antrim Area Hospital (12)25 28 32 (13)41 (14)37 
			  Braid Valley Hospital (12)— 0 1 (13)— (14)— 
			  Mid Ulster Hospital (12)— 1 8 (13)— (14)— 
			  Moyle Hospital (12)— 0 0 (13)— (14)— 
			  Whiteabbey Hospital (12)— 5 5 (13)— (14)— 
			 Northern Ireland total  170 212 284 270 243 
			  Note: Surveillance began 1 April 2001.  Source: Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSC (NI)).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on advertising with  The Guardian newspaper including online, advertorials and advertising features in the latest year for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA (excluding executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies) spent a total of £108,000 with  The Guardian media group, including online, advertorials and advertising features, in financial year 2005-06. The majority of this expenditure was on advertising vacancies.
	DEFRA also purchases some media space via media buying agencies. Some of the expenditure by these agencies may have been with  The Guardian media group. A figure for this expenditure is not available.

Carbon Neutral Woodchip Burners

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental buildings use carbon neutral woodchip burners to provide heating.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has one departmental building (Whittington road, Worcester) which uses a woodchip burner to provide heating.

Common Agricultural Policy

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost per head of population in the last year of  (a) the Common Agricultural Policy and  (b) other national and European measures to support agriculture; and what the cost was (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years ago.

Barry Gardiner: Agricultural policy in the EU generates transfers to producers from both consumers and taxpayers. An estimate of the cost of the Common Agricultural Policy can be obtained by combining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) consumer support estimates for the EU with data on agricultural expenditure from the EU budget.
	The OECD also compiles estimates of national expenditures on agricultural policies within the EU.
	The following table sets out estimates of these costs per head of population, as requested:
	
		
			   Cost of the CAP per head  National expenditures per head 
			 2005(1) 210 n/a 
			 2001 215 35(2) 
			 1996 216 38 
			 1986(3) 319 27 
			 (1) EU 25 (provisional) (2) Average 1999-2001 (3) EU 12

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters were received by his Department from hon. Members in each of the last 12 months; how many such letters were responded to within  (a) 10 and  (b) 20 days of receipt; how many were answered after 20 days from the date of receipt; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 11 January 2007,  Official Report, column 687W.

Departmental Expenditure

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1777W, on Departmental Expenditure (107707), whether he issued advice to other Departments on reducing use of bottled water.

Barry Gardiner: We provide general advice to public bodies under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative to improve environmental performance and reduce waste in public sector catering, This includes a case study on the PSFPI website—'Inn The Park', The Royal Parks (London)—which gives as one of the steps taken to improve environmental performance:
	"Plastic-bottled water has been phased out with the introduction of the drinking 'fountain', reducing waste and cost"
	URL:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/casestudies/royalparks.htm.
	We are looking at providing more specific advice.

Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much English Nature spent on programme expenditure in Gravesham's local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much English Nature spent on programme expenditure in Tunbridge Wells local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: English Nature's finance systems did not permit the recording of expenditure by local authority area and therefore this information is not available.

Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on programme expenditure in Chorley's local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency's (EA) north-west region central area covers most of Lancashire and parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchment, and covers a number of functions. The EA is not required to, and does not, keep records of sums expended in local authority districts. Therefore, the information requested is not available.

Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on programme expenditure in Tunbridge Wells local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments. Therefore, the information is not available in the form specified in the question.

Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on programme expenditure in Gravesham local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments and covers a number of functions. The EA is not required to, and does not, keep records of sums expended in sub-areas or local authority districts. Therefore, the information requested is not available.

Environment Agency and English Nature Expenditure

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) the Environment Agency and  (b) English Nature spent in Faversham and Mid Kent constituency in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by programme.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 23 January 2007
	The southern region of the Environment Agency (EA) covers most of the geographical areas of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and records its expenditure in relation to those areas. Expenditure is recorded within an area by technical or operation teams that have specific operational boundaries that normally relate to river catchments and covers a number of functions. Therefore, the information is not available in the form specified in the question.
	However, information is available on flood risk management expenditure for two specific projects in the Faversham area. These include the Medway and Swale Estuary Shoreline Management Plan at £71,000 for 2006-07 and £108,000 for 2007-08, and the North Kent Rivers Catchment Flood Management Plan at £23,000 for 2006-07 and £71,000 for 2007-08.
	English Nature's finance systems did not permit the recording of expenditure by local authority area and therefore this information is not available.

Food Surpluses: European Union

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what food surpluses exist within the European Union; what the costs were of storing and handling UK intervention products in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; what the costs were of storing and handling intervention products in the EU; and how much the UK paid towards that cost.

Barry Gardiner: At the end of the 2006 public storage financial year (30 September 2006), EU public stocks were 13,476,812 tonnes of cereal, rice, sugar and milk products and 3,529,002 hectolitres of alcohol/wine.
	The individual quantities of these products are listed in the table.
	Expenditure for intervention operations in the UK during the budget year 2006 was £1,380,911.70.
	Receipts of £1,892,043.40 were gained from the sale of intervention products leading to a net gain of £511,131.70.
	Expenditure for intervention operations during the budget year 2006 for the EU was €1053.5 million.
	Receipts of €452.6 million were gained from sales of intervention products leading to an overall total expenditure of €600.9 million.
	These figures are provisional and take into account aid, storage, sales and depreciation.
	A figure for how much the UK contributes towards these specific costs is not available as the UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole rather than to individual components of it.
	At the end of the 2006 public storage financial year (30 September 2006), EU public stocks were as follows:
	
		
			  Breakdown of Intervention Stocks in the EU 
			  Product  Quantity (tonnes) 
			 Cereals 12,184, 741 
			 Rice 61,589 
			 Olive Oil 0 
			 Milk sector (including butter) 117,831 
			 Sugar 1,112,651 
			 Beef meat 0 
			 Total 13,476,812 
		
	
	
		
			  Product  Quantity (hectolitres) 
			 Wine/Alcohol 3,529,002 
			 Total 3,529,002 
			  Source: European Commission Public Storage Flash Report of 11 December 2006

Furniture

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on furniture made by British firms in each year since 2000.

Barry Gardiner: The Department's expenditure for furniture manufactured by British firms is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2000-01 634,715.24 
			 2001-02 820,731.86 
			 2002-03 381,676.10 
			 2003-04 793,109.02 
			 2004-05 1,800,549.93 
			 2005-06 1,863,904.78

Orangutans

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has held with EU colleagues on preventing the importation for food production of palm oil whose production has damaged the habitat of the orangutan.

Barry Gardiner: I have held no recent discussions with EU colleagues on this issue.

Public Appointments

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which public appointments have been made by his Department to former Ministers who served in the Government since May 1997.

Barry Gardiner: The following table details the public appointments made by DEFRA to former Ministers since the Department was formed in 2001.
	
		
			  Body  Former Minister  Dates 
			 Water Services Regulation Authority Lord Whitty Appointed in March 2006 but resigned to take up post with Environment Agency as below 
			 Environment Agency Board Lord Whitty 18 September 2006 to 17 September 2009 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Baroness Hayman 1999 to July 2006 resigned due to election as Speaker for the House of Lords

Public Finance Contracts

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) public private partnerships and  (b) private finance initiative contracts have been entered into by his Department; what assets were transferred to the private sector as part of each deal; what the value of these assets was; what the total cost is of each contract; and what estimate was made of the cost to his Department of traditional procurement over the life of each contract.

Barry Gardiner: The core Department is currently undertaking one private finance initiative (PFI) project to provide office facilities at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge. There are, however, a number other PFI and public private partnership (PPP) projects being undertaken by DEFRA's sponsored bodies i.e. non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and public corporations. The information requested about these projects is set out in the following table. The total cost of each PFI contract reflects the sum of the unitary charge payments which are projections to the end of the contract, and are conditional on the performance of the private sector contractor. These costs include not only the repayment of the capital value of the project but also service and maintenance charges.
	The Department also provides support in the form of PFI credits to allow local authorities to enter into PFI contracts to provide waste recycling and management facilities. However, as the Department itself has not entered into these contracts and they are between the local authority and the service provider, we have not provided information about these deals.
	
		
			  PFI 
			  Organisation  Project  Assets transferred to private sector  Total cost of contract  Estimated cost of traditional procurement over the life of contract 
			 Environment Agency Broadland Flood Alleviation Project None Total payments estimated at £167.4 million (inc VAT) reflecting current prices and inflation for the life of the project. £155 million (inc VAT) at March1998 prices but £209 million based on indexation rates. 
			  
			 Environment Agency Pevensey Bay Sea Defences None Total payments estimated at £35.4 million The present value of the initial contract in1998 was estimated at £15.8 million compared to its traditional procurement cost of £19.2 million. Since the coverage of the contract was extended in 2002 to include another frontage, no comparable present day cash figures are available. 
			  
			 DEFRA Office Facilities at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge Building and land at Brooklands Avenue. Value £28.2 million. Total payments estimated at £92.3 million Information not available. 
			  
			 Natural England (successor to Countryside Agency) SPIRIT IT System None £1.3 million Information not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  PPP 
			  Organisation  Project  Assets transferred to private sector  Total cost of contract  Estimated cost of traditional procurement over the life of contract 
			 British Waterways Waterside Pub Partnership Property worth £13.9 million as at November 2006. Assets worth £2.9 million are planned to be sold in the future This PPP is a partnership agreement and does not have a priced contract in place. No comparison made with traditional procurement costs. 
			  
			 British Waterways Wood Wharf (London) development None at present but assets worth £57.2 million are planned to be sold in the future. As above As above 
			  
			 British Waterways ISIS (development of river and canal side property) Property worth £15.4 million as at November 2006. Assets worth £52.2 million are planned to be sold in the future. As above As above

Rain Forests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he has put in place to develop  (a) national and  (b) international policies to protect rain forests; and what assessment he has made of the merits of funding mechanisms to pay developing countries not to remove such forests.

Barry Gardiner: The UK Government are pursuing rainforest protection through a number of measures that include research on improving forest management, banning trade in endangered species and reducing trade in illegally logged timber products.
	On reducing the trade in illegal timber from rainforests, and all other forest types, the Government are working to implement the EU Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation, adopted in 2005. This allows the EU to enter into Voluntary Partnership Agreements with timber producing countries, and will include a licensing system to identify legal timber products for export to the EU.
	Collaboration continues with other major consumer countries in the G8 (plus China) and with the private sector. In particular, the UK Government's timber procurement policy, which requires all timber supplied to have derived from legally harvested trees, has become a beacon for other Governments to tackle illegal logging through voluntary consumer action.
	Developing countries currently have no obligations to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, although they can contribute to global emission reductions by hosting projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM includes afforestation and reforestation projects, but not deforestation, because of concerns that forestry protection projects would displace the deforestation elsewhere, with little or no net gain.
	Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations, Papua New Guinea and the Coalition of Rainforest Nations (CRN), and subsequently Brazil, have proposed that developing countries might participate in climate change agreements by voluntary targets to reduce deforestation below national (rather than project specific) baselines.
	Achievement relative to a national reference level would take account of any displacement of deforestation within a country.
	At the launch of the Stern Review in October 2006, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK would be working in partnership with a number of partners to explore ways of mobilising international resources to assist developing countries in sustainable forestry management. These partners include Brazil, the CRN, other developing countries, Germany (as Presidency of the G8) the EU and the World Bank. We are currently in talks with Germany and developing countries to establish how best to take this forward.
	Furthermore, the UK Government are committed to working with other countries to promote the conservation of the world's wildlife, for example, through our membership of agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Rain Forests

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where deforestation of rain forests is continuing; where policies have been introduced to prevent further depletion of the rain forests; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) data shows that about 13 million hectares of the world's forests are lost annually due to deforestation. Brazil (3,103) and Indonesia (1,871) demonstrated the largest net forest loss (1,000 hectares per year) between 2000 and 2005. However, the net rate of loss is slowing down, thanks to new planting and natural expansion of existing forests. A range of initiatives introduced by Brazil are thought to have reduced deforestation rates in the Amazon by an estimated 31 per cent. in 2004-05 and 30 per cent. in 2005-06.
	No single action can stop illegal logging. Combating it requires the simultaneous implementation of many policies and measures in and between those countries that produce timber and those that import it. In 2002, the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia that commits both Governments to work together to tackle illegal logging and the associated trade in timber between the two countries. Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) legislation was adopted under the UK Presidency of the European Union (EU) in December 2005. This will allow the EU to enter into agreements with developing countries that export timber.
	In January 2006, new funding of £24 million over five years to tackle illegal logging and underlying governance problems was announced. This will focus on tropical countries in Africa and Asia.
	Action to reduce emissions from deforestation is not currently included under the Kyoto Protocol. This is because of the risk of such projects simply resulting in displacement of deforestation, to no net environmental gain. Proposals recently put forward by Brazil, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Costa Rica, supported by the Coalition of Rainforest Nations, measure reductions in emissions relative to a national baseline, rather than a project-specific one. This greatly reduces the risk of displacement. The UK welcomes both proposals, and is actively working with the EU and international negotiating partners to secure a successful outcome on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries at the UN climate negotiations in Bali, in December 2007.

Rats

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of compelling water companies to introduce sewer baiting to reduce the rat population.

Ian Pearson: There is no specific duty on water companies in relation to the control of rats in sewers. A joint protocol, published in 1999 by the Local Government Association and Water UK, set out arrangements for closer working between water companies and local authorities on rodent infestations in sewers. However, sewer baiting is a matter for individual water companies.

Royal Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent using Royal Mail in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: From information held centrally, the core Department has spent the following sums with Royal Mail and Parcelforce:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Royal Mail  Parcelforce 
			 2001-02 3,705,225.54 23,419.49 
			 2002-03 3,687,032.30 21,576.06 
			 2003-04 2,299,632.72 11,718.29 
			 2004-05 1,485,721.13 4,127.73 
			 2005-06 923,440.13 4,937.14 
			 Total 12,101,051.82 65,778.71 
		
	
	The core Department does not hold information centrally for what its Executive Agencies may have spent with either organisation.

Rural Economy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support tourism in rural areas; and what assessment he has made of the effect of cuts in spending to inland waterways on rural economies.

Barry Gardiner: The regional development agencies (RDAs) in England were given the strategic lead for tourism in the regions, and have been tasked with ensuring the appropriate delivery structures are in place. Their remit includes rural areas as well as urban. Defra contributes to the RDA 'single pot' to support such activity. VisitBritain was established as the national lead tourism marketing organisation, promoting the UK overseas, and England domestically, including rural areas.
	A high quality environment is a key part of the visitor experience in rural areas and Defra has a wide range of policies which support this including agri-environment schemes, landscape conservation and waterways. Defra sponsors the three major navigation authorities—British Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority. It provides them with financial support in their important work of maintaining and improving canals and waterways. The Government recognise that waterways act as a catalyst for regeneration. For example, British Waterways has around 1,500 miles of rural waterways and has been involved with over £10 billion of waterside regeneration. In 2006-007, the in-year cut to Defra's navigation bodies will have no demonstrable effect on rural economies.

Set-aside

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much is spent in the EU on paying for set-aside; and for what reasons.

Barry Gardiner: The data requested are not available as payments against set-aside entitlements are not separately identified from other single payment scheme (SPS) expenditure at EU level. Despite the introduction of the SPS, set-aside was retained as a production control measure as part of the 2003 common agricultural policy (CAP) reforms. The Government have already signalled their view to our EU partners that constraints on production such as set-aside should be eliminated as part of the 2008 CAP reform 'health check'.

Single Farm Payments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payment (SFP) claimants in England have been fined for errors found within their completed  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006 SFP forms; what the total sum is of these fines; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) does not fine farmers. However for a variety of reasons penalties can be applied to a Single Payment Scheme (and associated schemes) application.
	As at 15 November 2006 25,551 penalties have been applied to 2005 scheme year claims, affecting 19,673 Single Business Identifiers, equating to deductions of £15,090,280. In addition a further 1,823 claims were penalised owing to non-compliances found during inspections.
	For the 2006 scheme year the RPA has only made a small number of payments and a figure of the number of penalties applied is not available.

Sugar Imports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much per kilo is levied on the import of sugar from developing countries; for what reasons levies are imposed; and what assessment he has made of the global shortage or surplus of sugar production.

Barry Gardiner: The European Union (EU) imposes customs duties on imports of sugar in order to protect the minimum prices which are offered to EU growers and processors under the common organisation of the market. The rates of import duty vary; for white and raw sugar they are €0.419 per kilogram, or €0.339 per kilogram where the sugar is imported for refining.
	In principle, these duty rates apply to imports from all third countries but some countries are eligible for preferential terms. Currently, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries may supply 1.3 million tonnes to the EU, duty-free, and at the EU market price. However, under the Everything But Arms agreement, the duty that would otherwise be payable by the least developed countries is being progressively reduced and will be completely suspended from 2009.
	My Department has not made an assessment of the balance between world sugar production and consumption.

Tobacco Production: European Union

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subsidies are available at  (a) EU and  (b) national level to producers of tobacco in the European Union.

Barry Gardiner: The European Union (EU) adopted budget for tobacco premiums in 2006 was €920 million and the provisional adopted budget for 2007 is €316.6 million. The main beneficiaries of the EU subsidy have been Greece and Italy.
	European Community produced tobacco is classified so that payments (known as "premia") are made on eight groups. Premia are paid only when a standard contract has been concluded between the producer and a first processor for tobacco grown in recognised production zones. However, there is a quota system with a Community limit of 350,600 tonnes (divided by member state and variety group). Producers may not conclude contracts for tobacco beyond their quota, so any tobacco grown beyond quota will only fetch market prices and no premium.
	Following a successful reform of the EU tobacco regime in 2004, direct support will cease in 2010.

Tobacco Production: European Union

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of EU tobacco production is exported to non-EU nations.

Barry Gardiner: The most recent figures (for 2005) show that some 53 per cent. of the 364,000 tonnes of raw tobacco produced in the European Union (EU) was exported to countries outside the EU.

Tobacco Production: European Union

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subsidies are provided for EU tobacco exports to non-EU countries.

Barry Gardiner: There is no export refund system.

Tobacco Production: European Union

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons tobacco production in the EU is subsidised.

Barry Gardiner: The tobacco regime was introduced in 1970 to support member states who have traditionally grown the crop in geographically disadvantaged areas, maintain farmers' incomes and reduce surpluses by adapting production to market needs.
	The UK does not produce tobacco and has always been critical of the support regime because of the cost and health implications. We believe that subsidies are at odds with the Community-sponsored Europe Against Cancer programme.
	The successful reform of the EU tobacco regime in 2004 introduced 'decoupling', which means that the direct link between production and support is broken. This will apply progressively until 2010 when direct support for tobacco will cease.

Trade Union Funding

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has given to individual trade unions in the last three years.

Barry Gardiner: The Department does not fund individual trade unions. DEFRA does grant its trade union representatives reasonable time off and facilities to carry out union duties, activities and training in accordance with their statutory rights; and remains committed to doing so.

Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what documents his Department and its agencies translate for people in the UK who do not speak English; into which languages such documents are translated; and what the cost was of producing such translations in each of the last five years, broken down by language of translation.

Barry Gardiner: No documents were translated in 2002 but in the last four years, DEFRA's translation section has arranged the translation of the following documents for people in the UK who do not speak English:
	Amendment to paragraph of "EC Quality Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables—A Retailer's Guide" (2003)
	Leaflet entitled "If in doubt, leave it out" (re illegal imports) (2003)
	Leaflet on Manual Harvest Workers (2003)
	Gangmaster leaflet (2004)
	Extracts from Agriculture and Horticulture Act (2004)
	Leaflet entitled "Waste—duty of care" (2004)
	Leaflet entitled "Food on the Go" (2005)
	Two dry cleaning leaflets—reminders about Solvent Emissions Directive (2006)
	Summary leaflet—Controls on the handling of waste (2006)
	The cost per language in each of these years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Arab 1,066 235 0 0 
			 Bengali 1,066 0 1,045 504 
			 Chinese Simplified 595 0 0 0 
			 Chinese Traditional 665 1,004 1,045 424 
			 Farsi 0 235 0 0 
			 Greek 0 0 0 65 
			 Gujarati 1,136 0 1,045 65 
			 Hindi 1,136 0 0 0 
			 Kurdish 0 470 0 0 
			 Polish 94 0 0 0 
			 Portuguese 73 0 0 0 
			 Punjabi 1,136 0 1,045 0 
			 Russian 72 0 0 0 
			 Turkish 70 0 1,045 431 
			 Urdu 1,136 2,555 1,045 504

Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which services provided by his Department and its related agencies translation services are provided.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA's translation section provides a translation service from and into English for staff in the Department's core divisions and its Executive agencies. Translations into English include correspondence, health conditions, draft EU regulations and scientific articles. Translations into a variety of foreign languages include correspondence and health certificates, plus some leaflets aimed at non-English speakers in the UK. In addition, publications, consultations and letters are regularly translated into Welsh under DEFRA's Welsh Language Scheme, as set out on our website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/welshlangscheme/index.htm.

Wild Birds: Imports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what grounds the EU has passed a permanent ban on the import of wild birds into the European Community.

Barry Gardiner: The European Union has voted for an indefinite ban on animal health grounds. It can be repealed or amended if, for example, there is evidence of a change in the risk associated with importing disease.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-Levels: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students within the constituency of Romford left further education having completed A-levels or equivalent qualifications to enter full-time employment in 2005-06.

Bill Rammell: In 2005-06, 558 students aged 16-18 completed their A level (or equivalent qualification) studies in institutions located in the Romford constituency. There are no data available on the number of these young people who entered full-time employment at this local level.

Child Care

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of families  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have taken up (i) free and (ii) subsidised child care in each London borough; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	The available information about population estimates for three and four-year-olds in each London borough is shown in table 1. Information about the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in each London borough is shown in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Population estimates for three and four-year-olds( 1,2)  in each London borough—December 2005 
			  London boroughs  Population estimates for three and four-year-olds 
			  Inner London  
			 Camden 4,800 
			 Hackney 6,700 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,900 
			 Haringey 6,100 
			 Islington 4,100 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,900 
			 Lambeth 6,800 
			 Lewisham 6,300 
			 Newham 8,300 
			 Southwark 6,600 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,300 
			 Wandsworth 6,400 
			 Westminster 4,500 
			   
			  Outer London  
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,800 
			 Barnet 8,300 
			 Bexley 5,000 
			 Brent 6,600 
			 Bromley 7,100 
			 Croydon 8,200 
			 Ealing 7,300 
			 Enfield 7,400 
			 Greenwich 6,100 
			 Harrow 4,900 
			 Havering 4,900 
			 Hillingdon 6,100 
			 Hounslow 5,300 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,400 
			 Merton 4,600 
			 Redbridge 6,100 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,500 
			 Sutton 4,000 
			 Waltham Forest 5,900 
			 (1) ONS population estimates at December 2005, rounded to the nearest 100. (2) ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of part-time funded places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-olds in each London borough—January 2006 
			  London boroughs  Number of part-time funded places filled by three and four-year-olds 
			  Inner London  
			 Camden 4,065 
			 Hackney 5,495 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,460 
			 Haringey 5,505 
			 Islington 4,160 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,380 
			 Lambeth 6,200 
			 Lewisham 5,650 
			 Newham 7,600 
			 Southwark 6,210 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,790 
			 Wandsworth 6,070 
			 Westminster 3,400 
			   
			  Outer London  
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,225 
			 Barnet 7,055 
			 Bexley 4,720 
			 Brent 5,785 
			 Bromley 6,110 
			 Croydon 7,435 
			 Ealing 7,115 
			 Enfield 6,395 
			 Greenwich 5,875 
			 Harrow 4,020 
			 Havering 4,425 
			 Hillingdon 6,115 
			 Hounslow 4,575 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,050 
			 Merton 4,255 
			 Redbridge 6,045 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,005 
			 Sutton 3,675 
			 Waltham Forest 5,865 
			 (1 )A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 
		
	
	Data on eligibility and take up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
	Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the London Childcare Affordability Pilot, the child care element of the working tax credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS child care allowances.

Child Care

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of families in Coventry  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have taken up (i) free and (ii) subsidised child care.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows Coventry having a population of 7,200(1) three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 early years and annual schools censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the Coventry local authority area was 6,500(2).
	Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
	Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the child care element of the working tax credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS child care allowances.
	(1) ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
	(2) The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.

Child Care

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of families in Eastbourne  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have taken up (i) free and (ii) subsidised child care.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows East Sussex having a population of 10,000(1) three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 Early Years and Annual Schools Censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the East Sussex local authority area was 8,500(2).
	Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
	Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the child care element of the Working Tax Credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS childcare allowances.
	(1) ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
	(2) The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.

Child Care

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of families in Chorley  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have taken up (i) free and (ii) subsidised child care.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	At December 2005 the Office for National Statistics shows Chorley parliamentary constituency having a population of 2,200(1) three and four-year-olds, and the 2006 Early Years and Annual Schools Censuses show the number of part-time early education places funded by the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds in the Chorley parliamentary constituency was 2,000(2).
	Data on eligibility and take-up of free or subsidised child care overall are not available centrally.
	Child care used by parents can be subsidised in a variety of ways, including the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit, local authority subsidies, Jobcentre Plus new deals, care to learn, learner support funds and NHS childcare allowances.
	(1) ONS population estimates are aggregated to age groupings of at least five years. Figures based on a single year of age at the sub-national level are therefore of limited reliability.
	(2) The number of children benefiting from some form of free early education can exceed the number of free part-time early education places taken up by children as a place may be taken up by more than one child.

Church Music

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision exists in the national curriculum for teaching about the role of church music in English culture; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The national curriculum for music sets out that children must be taught about music through a range of live and recorded music from different times and cultures including music from the British Isles, the "Western classical" tradition, folk, jazz and popular genres, and by well-known composers and performers. Religious education syllabuses are drawn up locally and it is a matter for individual schools to decide within this framework if they wish to address the role of church music. Choir schools in the independent and maintained sectors are pre-eminent in supporting church music and maintaining our rich choral heritage.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was paid in the education maintenance allowance scheme in each year since the programme's inception.

Phil Hope: Expenditure on education maintenance allowance since its inception in 1999 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost (£ million) 
			 1999-2000 11 
			 2000-01 52 
			 2001-02 109 
			 2002-03 120 
			 2003-04 142 
			 2004-05 260 
			 2005-06 406.6

Education Supervision Orders

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many education supervision orders were put in place for children with special educational needs in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect data relating to education supervision orders.

Further Education

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults participated in further education in  (a) Lincolnshire,  (b) Nottinghamshire,  (c) Derbyshire,  (d) Leicestershire,  (e) Rutland and  (f) Northamptonshire in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Figures for those participating in further education (FE) funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) can be derived from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). The FE ILR was collated for the first time in 2002-03 and figures are given from that time.
	The following table shows the total number of learners aged 19 and above in FE in local LSC areas within the east Midlands since 2002/03 based on home postcode of the learner. Numbers of learners nationally are presented for comparison.
	
		
			  Area/year  Adult learners in FE 
			  Derbyshire  
			 2002-03 86,040 
			 2003-04 83,700 
			 2004-05 84,990 
			 2005-06 74,620 
			   
			  Nottinghamshire  
			 2002-03 91,130 
			 2003-04 96,210 
			 2004-05 93,200 
			 2005-06 71,840 
			   
			  Lincolnshire and Rutland  
			 2002-03 50,790 
			 2003-04 54,910 
			 2004-05 51,540 
			 2005-06 36,450 
			   
			  Leicestershire  
			 2002-03 77,340 
			 2003-04 77,170 
			 2004-05 77,240 
			 2005-06 63,270 
			   
			  Northamptonshire  
			 2002-03 37,520 
			 2003-04 37,650 
			 2004-05 39,300 
			 2005-06 31,530 
			   
			  East Midlands  
			 2002-03 342,820 
			 2003-04 349,640 
			 2004-05 346,270 
			 2005-06 277,720 
			   
			  England  
			 2002-03 3,510,810 
			 2003-04 3,456,100 
			 2004-05 3,476,930 
			 2005-06 2,884,780 
			  Note: Figures rounded to nearest 10.  Source: 2005-06 figures breakdown figures reported in ILR/SFR11, Further Education, Work-Based Learning and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England: 2005-06; 2004-05 and 2003-04 derived from figures reported in ILR/SFR08; 2002-03 figures derived from figures reported in ILR/SFR05.

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what right he intends  (a) parents,  (b) parent associations and  (c) staff to have to appeal to the Learning and Skills Council on the closing down of Further Education Colleges under Clause 14, Part 2 of the Further Education and Training Bill 2007.

Bill Rammell: There are well established procedures, set out in regulations (Statutory Instrument No: 2001/782), for the publication of proposals to dissolve a further education corporation. Where a proposal is published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), this includes a requirement to consult. The Further Education and Training Bill retains the requirement for regulations, which prescribe both the type of information to be included in the proposal and the manner in which it must be published. This ensures those who have an interest in the proposal are informed and have an opportunity to make representations.
	Proposals must be published for a period of at least one calendar month. Parents, parent associations and staff may take part in the consultation process. Any representations received must be taken into account by the LSC before a decision is made to dissolve a further education corporation.

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons he plans to transfer decision-making authority on the  (a) establishment and  (b) closure of Further Education Colleges from his Department to the Learning and Skills Council; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The White Paper "Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances" set out our plans for greater flexibility and simplification of the FE system. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is best placed to ensure that the most appropriate arrangements for the delivery of such provision are in place in each area. While the Secretary of State currently decides whether to incorporate and dissolve further education corporations, this decision is based on a proposal developed by the LSC following consultation with the local community. By transferring these powers to the LSC we expect the process of establishing or dissolving institutions to be simpler, quicker and less bureaucratic.
	In future, the Secretary of State would intervene in these processes only where he considered the Council was acting unreasonably in relation to its statutory duties.

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which members of the governing bodies of Further Education Colleges were removed from their posts by order of the Secretary of State in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The Department's records indicate that the power, under Section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, for the Secretary of State to remove members of a governing body of a further education corporation has not been exercised.
	This is a reserve power to be used only in exceptional circumstances where all other options have failed. We believe that having the power available and the possibility of it being exercised has been the trigger, in some cases, for governing bodies to act themselves.

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Further Education Colleges were closed down in each year since May 1997; in how many instances his Office was not the final arbiter of the decision; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The following table sets out all Further Education Colleges closed (dissolved) each year since May 1997. The Secretary of State made the decision in each case, as is currently required at Section 27 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. However, the decisions were based on proposals developed by the Further Education Funding Council and, subsequently, the Learning and Skills Council following consultation with the local community.
	In all but one instance (noted on the table), the college corporations were dissolved as part of a merger between two or more existing colleges. The dissolution of a college corporation does not necessarily imply the closure of a site or a reduction in the level of further education provision available.
	
		
			  Further education college corporations dissolved since May 1997 
			  Number  College name  Date 
			 1 Worcestershire College of Agriculture and Horticulture 10 May 1997 
			 2 South Park Sixth Form College 1 August 1997 
			 3 Hyde Clarendon College 18 February 1998 
			 4 Airedale and Wharfedale College 1 August 1998 
			 5 Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture 1 August 1998 
			 6 Basford Hall College 1 August 1998 
			 7 East Birmingham College 1 August 1998 
			 8 North Bolton College 1 August 1998 
			 9 South College, Bolton 1 August 1998 
			 10 York Sixth Form College 1 April 1999 
			 11 High Pavement Sixth Form College 1 April 1999 
			 12 Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture 1 June 1999 
			 13 East Durham Community College 1 June 1999 
			 14 Greenhill College 1 June 1999 
			 15 Harrow and Weald College 1 June 1999 
			 16 Charles Keene College of Further Education 1 August 1999 
			 17 Leicester South Fields College 1 August 1999 
			 18 Holme Lacey College 1 August 1999 
			 19 Arnold and Carlton College 1 September 1999 
			 20 Kirkley Hall College 1 January 2000 
			 21 Phoenix College 1 April 2000 
			 22 The Rutland College 1 August 2000 
			 23 Hendon College 1 August 2000 
			 24 College of Care and Early Education 1 August 2000 
			 25 Melton Mowbray College 1 September 2000 
			 26 Kingsway College 1 September 2000 
			 27 Trowbridge College 1 November 2000 
			 28 Chippenham College 1 November 2000 
			 29 Lackham College 1 November 2000 
			 30 Walford College 1 January 2001 
			 31 West Oxfordshire College 31 March 2001 
			 32 St. Austell College 1 August 2001 
			 33 Basildon College 1 August 2001 
			 34 Thurrock College 1 August 2001 
			 35 Rowley Regis College 1 August 2001 
			 36 Shena Simon College 1 September 2001 
			 37 Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology 1 November 2001 
			 38 Lewes Tertiary College 1 November 2001 
			 39 Soundwell College 1 January 2002 
			 40 Ealing Tertiary College 1 January 2002 
			 41 Coventry Technical College 1 February 2002 
			 42 Broomfield College 1 March 2002 
			 43 Mackworth College 1 March 2002 
			 44 Derbyshire Tertiary College 1 March 2002 
			 45 East Yorkshire College 1 March 2002 
			 46 Brinsbury College 1 August 2002 
			 47 Teesside Tertiary College 1 August 2002 
			 48 North Derbyshire Tertiary College(1) 31 December 2002 
			 49 Merrist Wood College 1 August 2003 
			 50 The Rycotewood College 1 August 2003 
			 51 Oxfordshire College of Further Education 1 August 2003 
			 52 North Oxfordshire College and School of Art 1 August 2003 
			 53 Rugby College of Further Education 1 August 2003 
			 54 North Birmingham College 1 August 2003 
			 55 Park Sixth Form College 1 November 2003 
			 56 Daventry Tertiary College 1 August 2004 
			 57 Rother Valley College 1 August 2004 
			 58 Cannington College 1 September 2004 
			 59 North Tyneside College 1 January 2005 
			 60 Tynemouth College 1 January 2005 
			 61 Crawley College 1 August 2005 
			 62 Haywards Heath College 1 August 2005 
			 63 North Area College 1 January 2006 
			 64 The Isle College 1 April 2006 
			 65 People's College, Nottingham 1 June 2006 
			 66 Josiah Mason Sixth Form College 1 August 2006 
			 67 Widnes and Runcorn Sixth Form College 1 August 2006 
			 68 Newark and Sherwood 1 January 2007 
			 (1) Closed other than as a result of merger

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Further Education Colleges were established in each year since May 1997; in how many instances his Office was not the final arbiter of the decision; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The following table sets out all Further Education Colleges established each year since May 1997. The Secretary of State made the final decision in each case, as is currently required at Section 16 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. However, the decisions were based on proposals developed by the Further Education Funding Council and, subsequently, the Learning and Skills Council following consultation with the local community.
	In all but two instances (noted on the table), the new colleges were established as part of a merger between two or more existing colleges.
	
		
			  Further education college corporations established since May 1997 
			  Number  College name  Date 
			 1 Bolton Sixth Form College 1 August 1998 
			 2 East Durham and Houghall Community College 1 June 1999 
			 3 Harrow College 1 June 1999 
			 4 Leicester College 1 August 1999 
			 5 Wiltshire College 1 November 2000 
			 6 Thurrock and Basildon College 1 August 2001 
			 7 Brooke House Sixth Form College(1) 1 October 2001 
			 8 Sussex Downs College 1 November 2001 
			 9 Derby College 1 March 2002 
			 10 Longley Park Sixth Form College(1) 1 November 2002 
			 11 Oxford and Cherwell College 1 August 2003 
			 12 Tyne Metropolitan College 1 January 2005 
			 13 Central Sussex College 1 August 2005 
			 (1 )Established other than as a result of merger

Further Education Colleges

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reductions in administration he expects to make as a result of the implementation of the Framework for Excellence for further education; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Framework for Excellence (FfE) and the associated strategies announced in the White Paper 'Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances' will be developed and implemented as part of a coherent and evolving package of reform. FfE should help to improve the quality of post-16 provision and support better-informed choices and decisions by employers and individuals, thereby contributing to better and more relevant outcomes for end-users, increasing skill levels in the workforce and increased productivity.
	The framework is in an early stage of development and it is not possible to estimate potential savings in administration at this stage. However, FfE will enable FE institutions to use a single performance management framework, with common sets of data and performance indicators instead of a number of different frameworks. Thus FfE will be more streamlined than existing arrangements and will reduce bureaucracy.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) 15-year-olds and  (b) pupils at the end of the fourth key stage achieved A* to C at GCSE in (i) five or more subjects, (ii) five or more subjects including English and mathematics, (iii) English, mathematics and science, (iv) English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language, (v) five or more subjects including English, mathematics and science and (vi) five or more subjects including English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language in 2006.

Jim Knight: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Achievements at GCSE and equivalent in 2005/06 
			   Pupils aged 15  Pupils at the end of key stage 4 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 Achieving 5+ A*-C 379.6 58.5 382.4 59.2 
			 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English and mathematics 294.1 45.3 295.9 45.8 
			 Achieving A*-C in English, mathematics and science 264.1 40.7 265.9 41.2 
			 Achieving A*-C in English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language 166.9 25.7 168.1 26.0 
			 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English, mathematics and science 263.5 40.9 265.2 41.1 
			 Achieving 5+ A*-C including English, mathematics, science and a modern foreign language 166.9 25.7 168.1 26.0

Higher Education Funding Council

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the Higher Education Funding Council for England's budget was spent on the provision of higher education in further education colleges in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The following table sets out the percentage of HEFCE's budget which was spent directly on the provision of Higher Education (HE) in Further Education Colleges (FECs).
	
		
			  Percentage of HEFCE budget paid to directly funded FECs by financial year 
			   As percent of grants to all institutions  As percent of grants to all institutions and other bodies 
			 2001-02 3.1 3.1 
			 2002-03 2.8 2.7 
			 2003-04 2.6 2.5 
			 2004-05 2.5 2.4 
			 2005-06 2.5 2.5 
		
	
	These figures exclude indirectly funded HE provision in FE Colleges financed under franchising arrangements with Higher Education Institutions. While the position varies between individual institutions, FE Colleges have in recent years tended to receive higher than average percentage increases in their budgets as a result of our commitment to increase and widen participation and have benefited from the allocation of Additional Student Numbers and the widening participation premium in the grant distribution formulae adopted by HEFCE as a result.

Higher Education: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in the London borough of Havering left further education to attend higher education at a university based in  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales,  (c) Northern Ireland,  (d) England and  (e) elsewhere in the EU in 2005-06.

Bill Rammell: The latest information, showing all entrants to higher education from Havering local authority, is given in the following table. Information is not held centrally on the number of students from Havering who study abroad.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  to undergraduate courses from Havering local authority, split by country of study, for the academic year 2005/06 
			  Country of study  Number of entrants 
			 England 1,975 
			 Wales 20 
			 Scotland 10 
			 Northern Ireland 0 
			 (1) Covers all entrants to undergraduate courses from schools, further education colleges and other types of education institutions.  Notes: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Learning and Skills Council

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes  (a) have been made and  (b) are planned for the membership of the Learning and Skills Council in preparation for the new powers planned for the council on the closure and establishment of further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have no plans to change the membership of the Learning and Skills Council as a consequence of the proposed powers in the Further Education and Training Bill for the closure and establishment of further education colleges. However, as part of the streamlining of the LSC to make it more streamlined and responsive, clause 1 of the Bill proposes a reduction in the minimum size of the National Council. As part of its normal business the LSC reviews, from time to time, the composition of its council. The provision in the Bill will give the LSC flexibility when it carries out these reviews. The LSC National Council's membership reflects both its role for the consumers of the learning system—learners and employers—as well as for those who deliver it.

Legal Advice

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by the Department on external legal advice in each of the past five years.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills spent £369,647 in 2001-02, £172,043 in 2002-03, £275,523 in 2003-04, £243,286 in 2004-05 and £250,815 in 2005-06 on external legal services (i.e. advice and some litigation services). The figures have been rounded to the nearest pound.

New Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools have been built in each  (a) local education authority area and  (b) parliamentary constituency in England since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect information on new schools built by local authorities, in support of our policies of devolving decision-making to the local level and minimising bureaucratic burden. However, we estimate that since 1997, 800 new schools have been built around the country.
	This estimate includes information on the numbers, by local authority, of new schools (including replacement schools) built in recent years through the academies programme and the private finance initiative, which is also renewing and refurbishing many existing school buildings. Additionally, in the voluntary aided sector, we have information on new schools approved and built since 2001-02, although these figures under-represent the number of new voluntary aided schools opened, as they do not include where a new school is open, but all elements of construction are not yet completed. Nor do the figures include new voluntary aided schools approved in earlier years but completed in or after 2001-02, where the records are not readily accessible.
	This information is provided in the following table. We will collect this information systematically in Building Schools for the Future and the Primary Capital Programme.
	
		
			   Private finance initiative  Academies  Voluntary aided schools  Total 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1 — — 1 
			 Barnet — 1 — 1 
			 Bexley — 1 — 1 
			 Birmingham 8 — 1 9 
			 Blackburn with Darwen — — 1 1 
			 Bolton 1 — — 1 
			 Brent 1 1 — 2 
			 Bristol 4 1 — 5 
			 Calderdale 5 — — 5 
			 Camden 1 — — 1 
			 Cheshire 4 — 1 5 
			 Cornwall 2 — — 2 
			 Coventry — — 1 1 
			 Darlington — — 1 1 
			 Derby 5 — — 5 
			 Derbyshire 4 — — 4 
			 Devon 5 — 1 6 
			 Doncaster — 1 — 1 
			 Dorset 1 — 1 2 
			 Dudley 2 — — 2 
			 Ealing 4 1 — 5 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2 — — 2 
			 East Sussex 4 — 1 5 
			 Enfield 2 — — 2 
			 Essex 2 — — 2 
			 Hackney — 1 — 1 
			 Haringey 1 — — 1 
			 Harrow 2 — — 2 
			 Herefordshire 1 — — 1 
			 Hillingdon 1 1 1 3 
			 Kent 2 1 2 5 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1 — — 1 
			 Lambeth 1 1 — 2 
			 Lancashire 1 — 1 2 
			 Leeds 15 1 — 16 
			 Leicester City — — 1 1 
			 Lincolnshire 7 — — 7 
			 Liverpool 16 1 — 17 
			 Manchester 2 1 — 3 
			 Middlesbrough — 2 1 3 
			 Milton Keynes — — 1 1 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 6 — — 6 
			 Newham 3 — — 3 
			 Norfolk — — 1 1 
			 North Tyneside 4 — — 4 
			 North Yorkshire 4 — — 4 
			 Northamptonshire 1 1 1 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 — — 2 
			 Oxfordshire — — 1 1 
			 Portsmouth 1 — — 1 
			 Reading — 1 1 2 
			 Redbridge 1 — — 1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5 — — 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 — — 2 
			 Rotherham 7 — — 7 
			 Salford — 1 — 1 
			 Sandwell 5 1 — 6 
			 Sheffield 6 — 1 7 
			 Solihull — 1 — 1 
			 South Tyneside 1 — — 1 
			 Southampton 3 — — 3 
			 Southwark — 1 — 1 
			 Staffordshire 1 — 1 2 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2 — — 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1 — — 1 
			 Sunderland 1 — 1 2 
			 Surrey — — 1 1 
			 Swindon 2 — 1 3 
			 Tameside 3 — — 3 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1 — 1 2 
			 Torbay 2 — — 2 
			 Tower Hamlets 1 — 1 2 
			 Walsall 1 1 — 2 
			 Waltham Forest 2 — — 2 
			 Wandsworth — — 1 1 
			 West Sussex 3 — — 3 
			 Wigan — — 1 1 
			 Wiltshire 3 — 1 4 
			 Wirral 3 — — 3 
			 York 2 — — 2 
			 Total 187 22 29 238

Place 2Be

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what analysis of the  (a) effectiveness,  (b) value for money and  (c) future role of Place 2Be has been conducted by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Place 2Be currently receives £729,000 through the children, young people and families grant. Criteria for organisations supported through this grant require them to have agreed performance indicators and targets that are monitored and evaluated on a six monthly basis. The Department has not made a separate analysis of the effectiveness, value for money or future role of Place 2Be.

Polytechnics

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the quality of provision of education in the former polytechnics.

Bill Rammell: Higher Education Institutions, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for the standards of their own qualifications and the quality of teaching. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education conducts regular audits of the management of quality in each institution. Since 1997, QAA audit reports have shown consistently high ratings on quality and standards across all Higher Education Institutions (including 'post 92' institutions).

Teenage Pregnancy Unit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the annual budget of the teenage pregnancy unit has been since it was set up;
	(2)  if he will break down by main budget heading the expenditure of the teenage pregnancy unit in 2005-06;
	(3)  what the job description is of each employee at the teenage pregnancy unit.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 23 January 2007
	The following table sets out the budget allocated to deliver the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy, since it was launched in 1999. The table separates out the amounts spent on: local implementation (paid through a local implementation grant to each top-tier local authority in England); and the amount retained by the teenage pregnancy unit (TPU) to pay for aspects of the strategy that are best managed centrally, such as funding for the national media campaign and commissioning of research projects).
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Local implementation  Central costs  Total 
			 1999-2000 4.5 0.5 5 
			 2000-01 11.5 4.5 16 
			 2001-02 16 5 21 
			 2002-03 16 5 21 
			 2003-04 (1)33 7 40 
			 2004-05 (1)33 7 40 
			 2005-06 (1)33 5 38 
			 2006-07 29.5 5.5 35 
			 2007-08(2) 29.5 5.5 35 
			 (1)Budgets in years 2003-04 to 2005-06 included funding for the Sure Start Plus pilots. (2)Provisional 
		
	
	The budget breakdown for 2005-06 is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Budget  Amount (£ million) 
			 Local implementation (including Sure Start Plus pilots) 33 
			 Regional co-ordinators 0.9 
			 Media campaign 2.3 
			 Research 0.1 
			 PSHE training programme for community nurses 0.8 
			 Miscellaneous (staff-related costs, conferences, Independent Advisory Group) 0.9 
			 Total 38 
		
	
	The job titles for the six civil servants who currently make up the TPU are:
	1. National programme manager
	2. National policy manager
	3. National support manager
	4. TPU data analyst
	5. Support for local implementation
	6. Admin officer

Youth Opportunity Funds

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex have participated in projects funded by youth opportunity funds and youth capital funds in each of the last two years.

Beverley Hughes: The Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund (YCF) were announced in the Green Paper "Youth Matters" and have been available to local authorities from April 2006. A total of £115 million is available for both funds over the period 2006-08.
	Definitive data on participation across England will be available at the end of this financial year. The data that we have so far shows that more than 9,000 young people have been involved in making decisions about how the two funds are being used, and that around 24,000 have been involved in developing and submitting bids for the funding.
	A combined total of £509,128 is available for YOF and YCF in East Sussex for each of the two years during the period 2006-08.
	In East Sussex YOF funding has been administered by seven funding panels; five borough and district panels (allocating funding within their area) and two specialist panels (allocating funding to targeted groups). Over 80 young people have been involved in local panels. 12 young people from Eastbourne have been involved in their local panel. Three of these young people have also been involved in the YOF countywide steering group.
	To date around 115 YOF/YCF projects have been approved in East Sussex including over 30 from Eastbourne. The range of projects is diverse and will benefit a wide range of young people including those who are disadvantaged, but detailed information on the number of young people involved is not available until the end of the financial year.
	A full report summarising Year One activity in East Sussex will be prepared by the local authority in February, and they have indicated they would be happy to provide a copy of the report.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airports: Security

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which airports are using Backscatter X-ray machines; and whether his Department has published guidance on their use.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Use of backscatter technology as an alternative to full body hand searching started at London Heathrow airport in June 2004 as part of a programme for trialling enhanced screening processes. The implementation of this equipment is now being evaluated.
	Guidance has been given to the operators but is not for publication due to security reasons.

Animal Welfare

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to regulate the effect of the implementation of the Animals Scientific Procedures Better Regulation Action Plan on animal welfare;
	(2)  whether animal welfare stakeholders will be involved in the process of implementing the Animals Scientific Procedures Better Regulation Action Plan.

Joan Ryan: The objectives of the Animals Scientific Procedures Better Regulation Programme are to simplify current regulatory requirements and administrative processes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and reduce compliance costs whilst maintaining animal welfare standards.
	The programme will be overseen and managed within the framework for implementation of the Home Office Simplification Plan, announced in December 2006, and will actively involve operational level practitioners from industry and academia and those with a special interest in animal welfare to identify and prioritise the regulatory requirements and administrative processes to be improved and the compliance costs to be reduced; and to devise and test practical solutions, including assessing any impact on animal welfare.
	All animals that are used in procedures licensed under the 1986 Act must be housed and cared for in a way that meets the standards published in the Home Office codes of practice for the housing and care of animals.
	We continue to work to ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare are being implemented and have no intention of introducing measures that will weaken the protections afforded by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Ashfield Young Offender Institution

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been subjected to disciplinary proceedings at Ashfield Young Offender Institution since 2004; and what the outcome was in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been a total of 47 staff subjected to disciplinary proceedings at Ashfield since 2004. The outcomes were that seven staff were dismissed, 17 given final written warnings, 10 given written warnings, 12 received verbal warnings and one member of staff was regraded.

Assets Recovery Agency

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was to the public purse of the  (a) overheads,  (b) salaries,  (c) expenses and  (d) other associated costs of the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland in the last full year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The 2005-06 costs of running the Belfast office of the Assets Recovery Agency totalled £8.3 million gross (£5.2 million net). This was made up of £2.1 million in staff costs, £4.3 million in receivers' and other specialists' fees, overheads of £1.5 million and other costs of £0.3 million. Asset recoveries applied against receivers' fees totalled £3.0 million, leaving net costs of £5.2 million.

Assets Recovery Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future handling of  (a) prosecutions and  (b) investigations now being carried out at the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland.

Vernon Coaker: The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has no powers to bring prosecutions. In Northern Ireland this will remain the responsibility of the Public Prosecution Service. The ARA will maintain its current efforts in disrupting organised criminal enterprises through the civil recovery of criminal assets and through taxation until the merger with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), which is not likely to take place before April 2008. In addition the ARA has been carrying out some criminal confiscation work in Northern Ireland in support of cases investigated by Northern Ireland Government Departments and prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service. SOCA will take over responsibility for all of ARA's existing cases after the merger. The Serious Crime Bill includes provisions to extend the power to launch civil recovery proceedings to both SOCA and the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland.

Assets Recovery Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on future arrangements for liaison and co-operation between the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Republic of Ireland's Criminal Assets Bureau following the abolition of the Assets Recovery Agency.

Vernon Coaker: The Government fully support the excellent co-operation that exists between the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) and the Criminal Assets Bureau in the Republic of Ireland in disrupting criminal enterprises through the recovery of assets. These arrangements will continue when ARA is merged with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Assets Recovery Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff from the Serious Organised Crime Agency will be based in Northern Ireland following the abolition of the Assets Recovery Agency.

Vernon Coaker: Nothing in the Government's proposals to merge the Assets Recovery Agency with the Serious Organised Crime Agency will take away from our efforts in tackling organised crime in Northern Ireland through the recovery of assets. Our aim is that it will improve and enhance our efforts to do so. All staff in the Assets Recovery Agency in Belfast will have the opportunity to transfer to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. No decisions have yet been taken about the total numbers of SOCA staff to be based in Belfast following the merger which is not likely to take place before April 2008. However, as was made clear in the written ministerial statement of 11 January 2007,  Official Report, column 21WS, there will be no diminution in the resources available for asset recovery work in Northern Ireland.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  on how many occasions over the last two years his officers were carrying out dawn raids on asylum seekers accompanied by the police; for what reasons in each case; how many police were involved in each case; and who paid police overtime in those cases;
	(2)  how many  (a) officials in his Department and  (b) police officers were involved in the operation of dawn raids on asylum seekers and illegal immigrants in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2005 and (iv) 2006; and at which local Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices these raids were organised;
	(3)  what representations he has received from  (a) the Police Federation and  (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers on the use of police in dawn raids on asylum seekers;
	(4)  under whose command police officers in dawn raids on asylum seekers are acting; and what their role is during such raids.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does not conduct 'raids' against asylum seekers. Officers undertake operational visits to detain and remove persons who no longer have the right to remain in the UK and do so in line with operational policy and guidance. IND is unable to supply the level of detailed information requested as to do so would have significant resource implications and is available only at disproportionate cost. Information about each immigration enforcement operation involving police officers has been kept since 2005 and therefore data on operations supported by the police in 1998 and 1999 are not available. In 2005 and 2006 there were 8,865 and 13,953 police supported operations respectively, some of which will have been undertaken early in the morning for operational reasons. I can confirm that all Police Operational Support Unit (POSU) costs, which include overtime for all operations, are paid by IND.
	In 2001 the Home Office asked the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for the support of the police service to assist with the arrest of immigration offenders (including unsuccessful asylum seekers). ACPO, on behalf of the police service, agreed to this request. There have been no known representations received from the police federation on the use of the police service to assist with enforcement operations.
	Police officers act at the request of IND with whom operational tasking generally rests. The police role is to enter, secure, search premises, detain suspects and maintain a safe environment.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether officials able to use the language of the asylum seekers concerned are required to be present when dawn raids on failed asylum seekers are undertaken;
	(2)  whether officials qualified in child care are required to be present when dawn raids are undertaken on asylum seekers where children are likely to be present;
	(3)  whether dawn raids to detain failed asylum seekers are authorised at ministerial level;
	(4)  whether neighbours of asylum seekers detained in dawn raids are offered any explanation of the action being taken; and whether they are given an opportunity to express their views on such raids;
	(5)  what opportunities asylum seekers detained during dawn raids are offered to consult  (a) their legal advisers and  (b) their Member of Parliament (i) at the point of detention, (ii) in transit and (iii) at a detention centre.

Liam Byrne: The immigration and nationality directorate (IND) does not conduct 'raids' against asylum seekers. Officers undertake operational visits to detain and remove persons who no longer have the right to remain in the UK and do so in line with operational policy and guidance.
	Immigration officers are instructed, in chapter 58 of the Operational Enforcement Manual (OEM), available on the IND website, to book an interpreter if required when planning a family detention visit.
	The IND Family Removals Policy notice (EPU 2/06), available on the IND website, requires that there must be a minimum of one officer trained in emergency life saving when it is expected that children will be present during any operation to detain a family. IND's policy and practice is to deploy immigration officers who have been trained in working with families and children. Such officers are based in every office which plans and carries out family detention visits. To strengthen these arrangements, IND has been conducting a review of family removal procedures, the report of which is to be published shortly. One of the aims of that review has been to identify how the welfare of the children can be properly taken into account.
	Chapter 46 of the OEM sets out the levels of authority of enforcement visits.
	If neighbours have any questions or concerns about an enforcement visit at the time it is taking place, this will be dealt with by the officer in charge (OIC) so long as it is safe to do so and does not unduly delay proceedings.
	In chapter 58 of the OEM, immigration officers are instructed to inform families that they can contact a legal representative once they are at the detention centre. As set out in the Removal Centre Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), detainees are able to make a phone call immediately on arrival at the removal centre free of charge. Thereafter they must have access to phones for at least 14 hours a day, including during normal active periods. It is a matter for detainees as to whether they wish to consult a legal adviser or their Member of Parliament. Detainees must be advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at the centre.

Bokhari Family Raid

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) police officers and  (b) immigration officers were used in the raid on the Bokhari family in Grimsby on 9 January 2007; when the relevant detention order was issued; how many people were detained following the raid, broken down by age; what factors were taken into account when deciding to carry out the raid at 6 am on 9 January; and what the cost was of the raid;
	(2)  whether the officers who carried out the dawn raid on the Bokhari family in Grimsby on 9 January were informed of Mr. Bokhari's medical condition.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 22 January with the information requested.

British Citizenship

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) his predecessors have used the power to revoke British citizenship in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: My right hon. Friend has used the power once, in July 2006. That decision is now subject to appeal. One of his predecessors gave a person notice in February 2003 that he intended to use the power against him. That intention is also the subject of an appeal which has been delayed by the intervention of criminal proceedings.

Citizenship Applications: Armed Services

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for UK citizenship are expected from members of Commonwealth countries serving in the UK armed forces in the next three years.

Liam Byrne: Following the change of policy that I announced on 22 November 2006,  Official Report, column 68WS, and based on current service records held by the Ministry of Defence, we estimate that approximately 1,500 members of the UK armed forces are currently eligible to apply for naturalisation and that between 700 and 1,900 may be expected to be eligible in each successive year. There is, however, no requirement on them to apply for British citizenship.

Correspondence

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Society Security received the letter from the hon. Member for St. Albans, ref. SA3180, dated 16 May 2006, referred to in the answer of 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1658W, on correspondence.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of 10 October 2006 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on behalf of Wenceslas Mwanda Baka Nzita (Home Office reference M729250).

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 19 January.

Criminal Justice

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants in courts in England and Wales have been sentenced to  (a) a disposal under Section 190 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003  (b) a disposal under Section 190 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 together with a suspended sentence of imprisonment and  (c) a stand alone suspended sentence of imprisonment under Section 190 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 18 January 2007
	Between April 2005 and July 2006, 22,500 Suspended Sentence Orders were made which commenced under probation service supervision. Section 190 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 allows the courts to impose requirements under a Suspended Sentence Order. Suspended Sentence Orders cannot be made in isolation, without requirements being added to them.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and the totals have been rounded.

Criminal Justice

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 relating to the abolition of committal for trial and the extension of Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 are planned to come into effect.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 18 January 2007
	These procedural reforms in Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are connected with another provision in that Act that would increase magistrates sentencing powers, and it was announced last year that the implementation of these provisions would be reviewed together. The Government are committed to ensuring that cases are dealt with as efficiently as possible in the appropriate court. Discussions are continuing about how best to achieve this, and an announcement about the way forward will be made in due course.

Development Plus Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) cost and  (b) performance of the Development Plus Programme was in 2005-06.

Liam Byrne: Between 2005-06 the cost of the Home Office Development Plus Programme was £260,310. Feedback from the programme indicates that most G6/7 participants reported becoming more self aware, had set and achieved goals, identified strengths, built confidence and benchmarked skills as a result of the programme. Most AA—SEO participants reported that the course had a significant impact on their work as well as their ability to set or address job-based/professional goals.

Driving Without Insurance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the merits of the use of windscreen insurance discs to combat uninsured driving; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: We consider there are significant drawbacks to this approach. It is not vehicles that have to be insured, but a particular driver's use of a particular vehicle. The presence of a disc on a vehicle's windscreen would not prove that the person driving it at any particular time was properly insured to do so. Improved use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology linked to the Motor Insurance Database, the power to seize a vehicle being driven by someone without insurance and the introduction under the Road Safety Act 2006 of continuous enforcement from the record are likely to be more effective in dealing with uninsured driving.

Drug Importations

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many drug importation detections by HM Revenue and Customs were referred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) for further investigation in the last two years; and how many of those were acted upon by SOCA;
	(2)  how many detections by HM Revenue and Customs of substantial quantities of class A drugs were referred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the last two years; how many of these cases SOCA decided not to investigate; and what the reasons for decision were in each case.

Vernon Coaker: Since the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 1 April 2006, it has worked closely with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. SOCA does not comment on operational matters but will publish an annual report following the end of the financial year on the exercise of its functions during the year.

Drug Importations

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many referrals of drug importation detections by HM Revenue and Customs were passed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency to police drug teams in the last two years; and how many of these have been acted upon.

Vernon Coaker: Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) does not refer drug importation cases notified to it by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to police forces. HMRC drug detections notified to SOCA by HMRC that are not adopted by SOCA are for HMRC to action as they consider appropriate.

Drug Liaison Officers

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug liaison officers transferred from HM Revenue and Customs to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 2 April 2006; how many of these are in post; and how many drug liaison officer posts have been converted into general crime posts at SOCA.

Vernon Coaker: On 1 April 2006, 59 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) overseas officers with functions including those of a drugs liaison officer transferred to Serious Organises Crime Agency (SOCA). Of those, 50 remain in post to-day.
	In line with the statutory responsibilities of SOCA to reduce harm from all forms of organised crime, not just from the threat of drugs trafficking, all of these posts have been converted to SOCA liaison officer posts which are general crime posts.

EU Accession State Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the average earnings of workers in the UK from the 2004 EU accession states.

Liam Byrne: The Department has not commissioned research into the average earnings of workers from the 2004 EU accession states. However, the Government does publish data from the Worker Registration scheme (WRS) which regulates access to the labour market of the A8 EU accession states on a quarterly basis. The latest quarterly statistics for the period 1 May 2004-30 September 2006 were published on 21 November 2006. This report includes information on the number of hours worked by A8 workers and their hourly wages.
	A copy of the report is available on the IND website:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/reports/accession_monitoring.html

Flu Jabs

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff under the age of 65 received an influenza vaccination as part of the Department's 2005-06 influenza campaign.

Liam Byrne: 2,869 non Agency Home Office staff under the age of 65 received an influenza vaccination as part of the Department's 2005-06 voluntary influenza vaccination programme. The Identity and Passport Service, formerly the UK Passport Agency, similarly vaccinated 589 staff. The Prison Service does not run a centrally organised vaccination programme and there is no centrally held data for individual establishments on this matter.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections he has made of the number of staff to be employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon in each year to 2010.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State is unable to give projected numbers of staff employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon that will be employed each year to 2010, as the resource budget for 2007-08 and following years for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has not yet been decided. Final decisions on 2007-08 budgets will be taken shortly.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the red rating given by the independent Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Complaints Audit Committee to IND complaints handling performance.

Liam Byrne: The red rating was given to the IND complaints procedures by the Home Office Audit and Assurance Unit (HOAAU). The Complaints Audit Committee (CAC) mentioned the red rating in its latest report, published on 14 December 2006.
	IND published a detailed formal response to the CAC report on the same date, explaining what action it intends to take on each of the CAC's recommendations.
	A complaints handling programme has been established to overhaul IND's complaints processes in line with Cabinet Office guidance and the CAC's recommendations. It will also take account of recommendations made by the HOAAU. The necessary changes will happen over the next 12 to 15 months.
	Full details and timescales can be found in IND's formal response, available in the House Library. It can also be found at:
	www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/cac

Motoring Offences

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  why the drivers of vehicles with overseas registration plates cannot be traced to enforce penalties and prosecutions after they are caught on cameras committing speeding and red light offences;
	(2)  how many vehicles with overseas registration plates were caught on camera committing  (a) speeding and  (b) red light offences in England in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006; and how many drivers of these vehicles had (A) penalties imposed on and (B) prosecutions brought against them;
	(3)  what proportion of  (a) speeding and  (b) red light offences caught on camera were committed in vehicles with overseas registration plates in 2006;
	(4)  how many  (a) penalties were imposed and  (b) prosecutions were brought against foreign nationals for (i) speeding and (ii) red light offences in England in 2006.

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reasons the drivers of vehicles with overseas registration plates cannot be traced to enforce penalties and prosecutions after they have been caught on camera committing offences;
	(2)  how many vehicles with overseas registration plates were caught on camera committing  (a) speeding and  (b) red light offences in England in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006; and how many drivers of these vehicles had (A) penalties imposed on and (B) prosecutions brought against them;
	(3)  what proportion of  (a) speeding and  (b) red light offences caught on camera were committed in vehicles with overseas registration plates in 2006;
	(4)  how many  (a) penalties were imposed and  (b) prosecutions were brought against foreign nationals for (i) speeding and (ii) red light offences in England in 2006.

Vernon Coaker: There are a number of practical problems in taking enforcement action against the drivers of foreign registered vehicles. We have taken a number of measures to improve the situation. These include a provision in the Road Safety Act 2006 which will allow the exchange of driver licensing and vehicle registration information with other countries. Further help will be provided by the European Framework Decision on the Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties, which will allow penalties imposed by courts in one member state to be enforced in another and by the International Convention on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications. The growing use of Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras, which check passing vehicles against various databases, is also helping enforcement against foreign offenders detected speeding and jumping red lights, since a person who succeeds in leaving the country without being dealt with for such an offence can have their vehicle's number-plate recorded on a database and so be detected and dealt with on return here.
	The information requested in respect of foreign registered vehicles detected by camera in the infringement of speed limits or jumping red traffic signals is not collected centrally.

Online Child Abuse

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders referred to in his statement of 10 January have been involved in online child abuse.

Vernon Coaker: The latest available information was set out in the Home Secretary's statements to the House of Commons dated 10 January and 16( )January, and in the Home Office press statement issued on 13( )January.

Passports

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Livingston constituency received free passports  (a) in the last 12 months and  (b) in the first year free passports were introduced.

Joan Ryan: The Identity and Passport Service does not ask passport holders to keep their address up to date on our database. Therefore, the Identity and Passport Service cannot identify the number of current residents by geographical area that have taken advantage of the scheme to issue free passports to those applicants born on or before 2 September 1929.
	However a response can be provided for residents of the United Kingdom:
	 (a) For the last 12 months (1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006) 153,330 people born on or before 2 September 1929 have had their entitlement to free passports fulfilled by the Identity and Passports Service.
	 (b) In the first year of the scheme (18 October 2004 to 17 October 2005) 201,123 people born on or before 2 September 1929 have had their entitlement to free passports fulfilled by the Identity and Passport Service.

PentiP System

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when the PentiP computer system is expected to be operational to process all fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder;
	(2)  what the estimated cost is of establishing the PentiP computer system; and what the annual cost is expected to be of maintaining the system thereafter.

Tony McNulty: The PentiP computer system will provide a single national data sharing system to process all fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder. It is planned to be operational in 53 police forces (comprising 53 forces in England and Wales; eight forces in Scotland; the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and the British Transport Police) by September 2009. It is estimated that the system will cost, in total, £9.3 million over the period 2005-06 to 2009-10 to implement. Once implemented, the annual cost of maintaining the system, estimated to be approximately £140,000, will be funded by police forces and courts out of savings generated by replacing and rationalising existing penalty notice systems.

Police Officers and Community Support Officers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police community support officers and  (b) police officers were recruited to West Midlands police force in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The available data are given in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Police officers and PCSO's recruited to West Midlands police force, as at 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006 (FTE)( 1) 
			  As at 31 March:  Police officers  Police community support officers( 2, 3, 4) 
			 1997 393 — 
			 1998 444 — 
			 1999 466 — 
			 2000 255 — 
			 2001 553 — 
			 2002 676 — 
			 2003 792 0 
			 2004 643 33 
			 2005 542 106 
			 2006 492 64 
			 (1) Full time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (2) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03 (3) Data are not available for Quarter 1 2002-03 (April to June 2002 inclusive) (4) Data are not available for Quarter 1 2003-04 (April to June 2003 inclusive)

Police Officers and Community Support Officers

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) community support officers were employed by each police authority (i) on 11 September 2001 and (ii) in each year since, broken down by (A) region and (B) police authority.

Tony McNulty: Police service strength data are collected and published annually and data are given as at 31 March of the relevant year. Data from 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2006 have therefore been given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Police officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2006 
			  Police force  2001( 3)  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 2,994 3,096 3,149 3,401 3,384 3,389 
			 Bedfordshire 1,036 1,069 1,106 1,181 1,215 1,198 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,296 1,362 1,384 1,400 1,402 1,430 
			 Cheshire 2,002 2,059 2,119 2,177 2,186 2,174 
			 Cleveland 1,407 1,461 1,582 1,687 1,676 1,677 
			 Cumbria 1,048 1,100 1,140 1,222 1,232 1,230 
			 Derbyshire 1,823 1,848 2,003 2,070 2,070 2,046 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,934 3,053 3,202 3,283 3,369 3,493 
			 Dorset 1,354 1,381 1,416 1,433 1,450 1,485 
			 Durham 1,595 1,614 1,651 1,685 1,718 1,699 
			 Essex 2,897 2,946 2,989 3,098 3,190 3,279 
			 Gloucestershire 1,173 1,183 1,227 1,284 1,291 1,289 
			 Greater Manchester 6,909 7,217 7,343 8,042 8.041 7,959 
			 Hampshire 3,438 3,480 3,668 3,706 3,725 3,707 
			 Hertfordshire 1,922 1,825 1,957 2,086 2,104 2,126 
			 Humberside 1,917 2,058 2,105 2,213 2,230 2,224 
			 Kent 3,319 3,355 3,487 3,576 3,586 3,599 
			 Lancashire 3,255 3,304 3,339 3,550 3,551 3,583 
			 Leicestershire 2,032 2,100 2,114 2,277 2,283 2,250 
			 Lincolnshire 1,202 1,198 1,221 1,228 1,221 1,213 
			 London, City of 703 764 808 853 876 869 
			 Merseyside 4,081 4,125 4,099 4,122 4,317 4,269 
			 Metropolitan Police 24,878 26,223 27,984 29,735 30,710 30,536 
			 Norfolk 1,420 1,468 1,499 1,510 1,544 1,557 
			 Northamptonshire 1,157 1,214 1,210 1,239 1,267 1,317 
			 Northumbria 3,857 3,929 3,943 4,040 4,048 3,983 
			 North Yorkshire 1,305 1,417 1,444 1,529 1,543 1,636 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,275 2,330 2,411 2,484 2,502 2,477 
			 South Yorkshire 3,197 3,199 3,183 3,279 3,265 3,255 
			 Staffordshire 2,129 2,133 2,202 2,266 2,280 2,272 
			 Suffolk 1,133 1,203 1,253 1,304 1,313 1,300 
			 Surrey 2,066 1,992 1,906 1,913 1,915 1,922 
			 Sussex 2,855 2,893 2,989 3,039 3,044 3,092 
			 Thames Valley 3,703 3,762 3,833 4,034 4,114 4,229 
			 Warwickshire 926 969 997 1,008 1,011 1,032 
			 West Mercia 1,951 2,018 2,256 2,355 2,367 2,351 
			 West Midlands 7,423 7,681 7,751 7,887 8,056 8,097 
			 West Yorkshire 4,815 4,889 5,029 5,275 5,631 5,644 
			 Wiltshire 1,120 1,157 1,158 1,217 1,222 1.219 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,055 1.132 1,149 1,160 1,174 1,182 
			 Gwent 1,274 1,333 1,341 1,372 1,438 1,467 
			 North Wales 1,444 1,506 1,539 1,603 1.652 1,617 
			 South Wales 3,154 3,222 3,239 3,279 3,281 3,263 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan Police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by Government office regions as at 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2006 
			  Government region  2001( 3)  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East 6,858 7,004 7,176 7,412 7,442 7,359 
			 North West 17,296 17,805 18,040 19,113 19,327 19,215 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11,234 11,563 11,761 12,296 12,669 12,759 
			 East Midlands 8,490 8,690 8,959 9,298 9,343 9,303 
			 West Midlands 12,429 12,801 13,206 13,516 13,714 13,752 
			 Eastern 9,703 9,873 10,188 10,579 10,768 10,890 
			 London 25,581 26,987 28,792 30,588 31,586 31,405 
			 South East 15,381 15,482 15,883 16,268 16,384 16,549 
			 South West 9,576 9,870 10,152 10,618 10,716 10,875 
			 Wales 6,927 7,193 7,268 7,414 7,545 7,529 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 transferred some resources from the Metropolitan Police to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police forces. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police community support officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by police force as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 06( 3) 
			  Police force  2003  2004  2005( 4)  2006( 4) 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 45 139 130 
			 Bedfordshire 0 12 40 41 
			 Cambridgeshire 6 57 86 101 
			 Cheshire 2 50 52 75 
			 Cleveland 37 77 75 100 
			 Cumbria 0 0 17 17 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 43 42 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19 51 74 74 
			 Dorset 6 8 47 61 
			 Durham 10 28 69 67 
			 Essex 10 86 179 192 
			 Gloucestershire 0 54 72 72 
			 Greater Manchester 160 173 269 251 
			 Hampshire 0 0 26 30 
			 Hertfordshire 14 46 98 139 
			 Humberside 0 0 20 20 
			 Kent 0 59 105 97 
			 Lancashire 77 110 161 184 
			 Leicestershire 28 41 103 136 
			 Lincolnshire 29 38 75 78 
			 London, City of 0 0 14 11 
			 Merseyside 40 72 170 196 
			 Metropolitan Police 513 1,463 2,147 2,315 
			 Norfolk 12 33 68 65 
			 Northamptonshire 12 10 37 40 
			 Northumbria 0 51 126 129 
			 North Yorkshire 0 52 75 71 
			 Nottinghamshire 10 56 108 112 
			 South Yorkshire 14 59 124 121 
			 Staffordshire 0 7 63 70 
			 Suffolk 0 15 34 30 
			 Surrey 21 56 115 126 
			 Sussex 22 83 228 257 
			 Thames Valley 0 7 98 130 
			 Warwickshire 11 25 56 64 
			 West Mercia 8 57 81 85 
			 West Midlands 0 39 219 252 
			 West Yorkshire 70 265 394 462 
			 Wiltshire 15 23 41 57 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 5 25 26 
			 Gwent 30 45 77 76 
			 North Wales 0 0 59 58 
			 South Wales 0 59 107 111 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03. (4) Strength figures as at 31 March 2005 onwards include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. Therefore these figures are not comparable with those provided for other years in the table. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police community support officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  by Government region as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2006( 3) 
			  Government region  2003  2004  2005( 4)  2006( 4) 
			 North East 47 155 270 296 
			 North West 280 406 669 723 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 84 376 613 674 
			 East Midlands 79 145 366 408 
			 West Midlands 19 129 419 471 
			 Eastern 41 248 505 568 
			 London 513 1,463 2,161 2,326 
			 South East 43 205 572 640 
			 South West 40 181 373 394 
			 Wales 30 109 268 271 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03. (4) Strength figures as at 31 March 2005 onwards include those staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. Therefore these figures are not comparable with those provided for other years in the table.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from open prisons in each of the last six months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is set out in the following table and covers the period from 1 June to 30 November 2006. There have been 299 absconds from all open prisons, in England and Wales, during this period. Figures for 2006-07 are provisional and subject to validation.
	
		
			  Absconds from open prisons in England and Wales 1 June to 30 November 2006 
			  Month  Number of absconds 
			 June 39 
			 July 36 
			 August 41 
			 September 61 
			 October 63 
			 November 59 
			 Total 299

Prisons

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners that take drugs; what percentage of the prison population this represents; what the corresponding estimated figures were for 1997 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The best measure of drug misuse in prisons is provided by the random mandatory drug testing programme. Results are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Year( 1)  Positive rate (Percentage) 
			 1997-08 20.8 
			 2002-03 11.7 
			 2005-06 10.3 
			 (1) Figures are reported on a financial year basis.

Probation Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there will be to the national probation budgets for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The resource allocation for 2007-08 is not yet settled; the indicative allocation is £908 million an increase of £25 million over 2006-07. After allowing for a £7 million technical adjustment, the increase is £32 million.
	This allocation is in respect of the local probation boards and the National Probation Directorate (NPD). Certain expenditure related to the Probation Service, but managed centrally by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), is not included. Arising from a review of NOMS HQ, the National Probation Directorate is being incorporated into the NOMS centre and in 2007-08 there will not be a separate NPD budget
	There is no indicative allocation as yet for 2008-09.

Public Opinion Research

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on commissioning public opinion research in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office conducts a wide range of research activities that support the development of information-led policy, including surveys of public opinion that consider Home Office issues and its related areas of responsibility. The Department commissions such work only when it is justified by the specific needs of a particular policy or programme and when this is the most economic, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose. Consulting and involving the public helps inform both policy formulation and delivery of better quality public services.
	Research programmes are often complex and combine a mixture of quantitative and qualitative elements. It is therefore not possible to break down the costs of opinion polling from the overall cost of a research project. The breakdown requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators have been set for the Serious Organised Crime Agency; and when they will be made public.

Vernon Coaker: In his letter of 9 June 2005 laid before both Houses of Parliament, the Home Secretary set SOCA his strategic priorities for its first three years of operation and how he will judge its success. This has been reflected in SOCA's 2006-07 annual plan.

Victim Support

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Government response to the National Audit Office report Helping victims and witnesses: the work of Victim Support (HC1212 Oct. 02), whether his Department has provided tender specifications for  (a) an information pack for people bereaved by road death and  (b) victim care units.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 January 2007
	The Government funded BrakeCare's advice pack for bereaved families and friends from 2001-02 to 2006-07 and will advise of the criteria and administrative procedures for future funding through the Victims' Fund.
	Victim Care Units are currently being piloted in partnership with Victim Support. Decisions on rollout have yet to be made.

Victim Support

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to comply with the recommendations of the National Audit Office report Helping victims and witnesses: the work of Victim Support (HC1212 Oct. 02) with respect to the provisions of the compact with the voluntary and community sector for fair access to funding and its applicability to bereaved victims' charities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 January 2007
	The National Audit Office, in 2002, made a recommendation that the Home Office
	"review the current arrangements for funding voluntary sector activity in this field [helping victims and witnesses], with the aim of [...] ensuring that the opportunity to bid to run new services is available to all potential providers."
	The Compact and the Treasury's Guidance to Funders and Purchasers advise Departments to use appropriate funding and procurement procedures when asking the voluntary sector to deliver Government priorities.
	We have not so far gone out to tender on new services from bereaved victims charities. Since 2004-05 the Victims' Fund has invited the voluntary sector to bid for grants from the Fund and the arrangements for doing so were in line with the principles in the Compact. So far it has focused on supporting victims of sexual violence. We are currently considering whether to broaden the scope of the 2007-08 Victims' Fund.

Victims of Crime: Financial Support

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on support for the victims of crime in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Office funds a wide range of projects and organisations to support victims of crime, such as sexual assault referral centres and independent sexual violence advisors for victims of sexual violence, the POPPY scheme for victims of trafficking, independent domestic violence advisors and 64 specialist court areas for domestic violence victims.
	The main national funding made available is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Funding to Victim Support  Compensation paid by CICA  Funding to the Victims' fund 
			 1997-98 12.7 201.5 — 
			 1998-99 12.7 194.4 — 
			 1999-2000 17.5 205.2 — 
			 2000-01 18.6 207.9 — 
			 2001-02 25.1 233.5 — 
			 2002-03 29.3 232.1 — 
			 2003-04 30 227.5 — 
			 2004-05 30 186.2 1 
			 2005-06 30 184 3 
			 2006-07 30 Not yet available 1.25

Visa Applications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department follows when considering visa applications from individuals implicated in human rights abuses.

Liam Byrne: All UK visa applicants are considered on their individual merits and in line with the Immigration Rules. Details of a number of people suspected of, or known to have, committed human rights abuses are entered on the Immigration Watchlist. Visa applicants are routinely checked against the Watchlist. Where the person has been excluded from the UK by personal decision of the Home Secretary, entry clearance will not be granted. In other cases, where the individual is shown to have an adverse history this information will feature heavily in considering the application. Entry clearance or immigration officers are empowered to refuse a person entry clearance or entry if they consider that their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to her counterparts in  (a) China,  (b) Russia and  (c) South Africa on (i) human rights, (ii) refugees, (iii) political prisoners and (iv) conditions in prisons in Burma.

Ian McCartney: I discussed the human rights situation in Burma with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui when I visited Beijing in July 2006. Human rights, refugees, political prisoners and conditions in prisons have been discussed at official level with China and Russia.
	During discussions on Burma at the UN we have made clear our concern about the human rights situation in Burma to all UN Security Council members, including China, Russia and South Africa. Our Permanent Representative's statement to the UN Security Council on 12 January reiterated these concerns. This statement was made in the presence of all UN Security Council Permanent Representatives.

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the results of discussions with the Colombian Foreign Secretary were following her recent visit to the UK, with particular regard to the ongoing investigation into Colombian paramilitary organisations' links with  (a) Colombian parliamentarians and  (b) Senator Alvaro Araujo; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met Colombian Foreign Minister Araujo on her recent visit to UK. Although the specific issues of investigations into Colombian paramilitary organisations' links with Colombian parliamentarians and Senator Alvaro Araujo were not raised, the two ministers discussed issues of bilateral importance such as the peace process, justice and peace law, counter-narcotics cooperation, President Uribe's plans for his second term and EU/Community of Andean Nations Association agreements. It was a positive first meeting in which both sides agreed to maintain and build on the close bilateral working relationship.
	UK policy towards Colombia is one of constructive engagement. We support the efforts of President Uribe to tackle the interconnected problems of internal armed conflict, illegal drugs trade and human rights abuses. In this meeting, and in our regular dealings with the Colombian authorities, we impress on them the importance of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. We will continue to monitor the issue of the alleged links between paramilitaries and parliamentarians in Colombia closely.

Cyprus

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make it her policy to seek the establishment of a truth and reconciliation process in Cyprus by the EU or the Council of Europe.

Geoff Hoon: The Government believe that a fair, viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem is most likely to be achieved through a UN-led settlement process fully supported by both communities. The Annan plan provided for an independent, impartial reconciliation committee to promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Although the elements of any future plan will need to be agreed by both communities, it is likely that any comprehensive settlement would include a reconciliation process.
	We welcome the agreement of the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to the proposals put forward by the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, on 15 November 2006. These are designed to lead to a resumption of comprehensive settlement negotiations. With other members of the UN Security Council, we have urged both sides now to now show the flexibility and courage required to grasp the opportunity which this agreement presents. We will continue to offer all support as necessary in the coming months.

Cyprus

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Turkish Cypriot decision to open Ledra Street in central Nicosia; if she will call on the Greek Cypriot Administration to demolish the wall on their territory without precondition; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK welcomes all steps that help increase contact and trust between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Opening a new crossing point at Ledra Street would have just such a beneficial effect. We welcome the Turkish Cypriot initiative to dismantle the bridge, and hope that this move will soon be followed by other practical steps leading to the full opening of the crossing point and fresh momentum in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Darfur

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made in advance of the meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism.

Ian McCartney: The Tripartite Mechanism between the African Union (AU), UN and Government of Sudan was established to take forward planning for UN support to the AU and a joint AU/UN force, as agreed at Addis Ababa on 16 November 2006.
	Following considerable international pressure, including from the UK, President Bashir has now accepted UN support for the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and has allowed the first UN military personnel into Darfur. We have been pressing the UN and AU to implement the Addis Ababa package.
	Our ambassador in Addis Ababa spoke to AU Peace and Security Commissioner Djinnet on 17 January to press on these points. On 18 January my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She pressed for progress in all areas, including in deploying UN support to AMIS and planning for the joint AU-UN force. She urged the Secretary-General to engage AU chairperson Konare directly, ahead of the AU summit at the end of January.

Darfur

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to  (a) the United Nations and  (b) the Sudanese government on the implementation of a no-fly zone over the Darfur region.

Ian McCartney: We utterly condemn all aerial bombardment in Darfur by the government of Sudan. We continue to make clear to the government that this action violates UN Security Council Resolution 1591 and must stop immediately. The government of Sudan has committed to renewing its political dialogue with the rebels. If it becomes clear that Sudan is determined not to cooperate, we will consider, with Security Council partners and the UN Secretariat, all measures which may help improve the situation in Darfur. A no-fly zone would be one of the options available for the international community to consider.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on a pact between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Laurent Nkunda.

Ian McCartney: Negotiations are ongoing between the government and army of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Laurent Nkunda to try and resolve the political and security crisis in North Kivu province. Several points must be addressed before any deal can be considered final. Broad agreement has been reached that troops currently serving under Nkunda will come under the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) central command in the future. We are urging the Congolese Government to resolve this in a way that avoids causing further suffering to the population of north Kivu.
	We continually press the Congolese authorities to accelerate the process of reforming the security sector and to ensure that FARDC troops and militias are prevented from continuing to abuse civilians in a climate of impunity.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian McCartney: Following last year's historic elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the political landscape is still taking shape. Although a President, Prime Minister and Parliament are in place, negotiations are continuing on the size and make-up of the new Government.
	Once all institutions are in place the government needs to focus on security, poverty reduction, good governance, security sector reform and human rights. President Kabila promised action on all these fronts in his inauguration speech on 6 December 2006.
	The UK will be in the DRC for the long haul supporting the DRC in consolidating its new peace and rebuilding the country. We have underlined the need for political and legal space for opposition parties, and that the government must be responsible, transparent and respect human rights.

EU Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department  (a) has provided and  (b) is planning to provide assistance to the EU Border Agency in its border security duties.

Geoff Hoon: The UK strongly supports the EU Border Agency (Frontex). Through the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Government have provided input to Frontex in relation to finance, to operational planning and training, as well as participating in a number of Frontex operations, including in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The Government look to participate in Frontex operational activity where we see value in doing so.

EU Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had on the EU Border Agency at the recent meeting of European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK is represented at Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils by Ministers from the Home Office and the Department of Constitutional Affairs. The JHA Informal Meeting on 15-16 January 2007 was attended by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, right hon. Baroness Ashton of Upholland, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration (Joan Ryan). The EU Border Agency was discussed briefly in the context of EU migration policy, but it was not a formal item on the agenda.

EU Council Meetings

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals from the presidency of the European Union she expects to be placed before the expected meetings of the  (a) Heads of Government and  (b) Foreign Affairs Councils of the European Union during each of the EU presidencies in 2007.

Geoff Hoon: The German Government have published a programme for their presidency that details the areas that they intend to cover. An 18-month programme for the three successive German, Portuguese and Slovenian presidencies has also been published for the first time. Both of these documents are available at the following website:
	http://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/Priorities_Programmes/index.html.
	A White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007 and an Explanatory Memorandum regarding the 18-month programme will be laid in the House shortly, and will give more details of the Government's approach.
	The spring European Council in March is likely to focus on climate and energy security and the Better Regulation agenda. There will also be discussion regarding the single market and economic reform, as well as a range of other issues. In June, the presidency will present a report to the European Council assessing the state of discussions on the future of Europe, according to the conclusions of the June 2006 European Council. Portugal is expected to continue this work under its presidency. The Portuguese will also focus on other priorities at the December European Council in line with the 18-month programme. Further details will be made available in the White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007.
	The German presidency will build on the work agreed under previous presidencies to ensure that the EU's policies and actions on external relations are focused, effective and coherent. The programme at the General Affairs and External Relations Councils will in part be dependent on external developments, but we anticipate that a broad range of foreign policy issues will be discussed, including Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Portugal will continue this approach under its presidency. Further details will be made available in the White Paper on Prospects for the EU in 2007.

EU Council Meetings

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the provisional dates for 2007 are of the Heads of Government Council Meetings of the European Union.

Geoff Hoon: Under the German presidency, the spring European Council will take place in Brussels on 8 and 9 March, with the June European Council due to take place on 21 and 22 June. An Informal Meeting of Heads of State and Government will also take place in Berlin on 25 March, to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. The Portuguese presidency is set to host an Informal Meeting of Heads and Government on 18 and 19 October, with the December European Council due to take place on 13 and 14 December.

European Direct Centres

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Direct centres have been opened; where each is located; and how much in public funds has been committed to each one.

Geoff Hoon: 25 Europe Direct centres have opened across the UK hosted in a range of organisations including Libraries, Chambers of Commerce and Local Government Offices. The European Commission part fund the centres up to 50 per cent. with the remainder coming from the contractual partner itself, which is in all cases necessarily a public-sector or not-for-profit entity. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not committed any funds to the Europe Direct Centres, but has helped to raise the profile of their launches and provided input to training events.
	The location of the centres and the amount funded by the Commission in Financial Year 2006-07 for each one are as follows: Plymouth (€24,000), Eastleigh (€24,000), London (€23,996.62), Coventry (€24,000), Llangollen (€24,000), Cardiff (€24,000), Durham (€12,000), Luton (€24,000), Newton (€23,981.50), Camarthen (€24,000), Paignton (€24,000), Leeds (€23,999.73), Gloucester (€24,000), Belfast - two Centres (€23,330 and €24,000), Wrexham (€23,417), Ashford - three Centres (€24,000 each), Derry (€17,000), Highlands and Islands (€21,397), Edinburgh - two Centres (€24,000 each), North and Western Lancashire (€24,000) and Ballygawley in Co Tyrone (€12,000).

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which executive agencies are the responsibility of her Department; what the function is of each agency; and what the budget was of each agency in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the following executive agencies:
	 Wilton Park
	Which contributes to the Government's strategic priorities by delivering conferences on key international themes, bringing together decision-makers and opinion-formers from around the world to address the most pressing global issues. Wilton Park's financial target is to cover its running costs through raising conference and commercial income. The target turnover in 2006-07 is £4 million.
	 FCO Services
	Became an Executive Agency of the FCO on 1 April 2006 and has yet to submit its first set of financial statements. It was set up in 1999 to provide the FCO with co-ordinated support services on a global basis in support of the FCO's worldwide objectives. As part of the modernisation of Government, FCO Services now offers its services to a wider customer base including other Government Departments. FCO Services forecasts a turnover of around £120 million per annum with the FCO being its main customer and with wider market customers accounting for an ever increasing share of revenues.

Government Auctions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where her Department publishes information about Government auctions which it arranges or to which it contributes in  (a) Blackpool,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the North West; and when the next such auction will take place in each area.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not arranged, or contributed to, any auctions or sales in Blackpool, Lancashire or the North West and has no plans to do so.

Illegal Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Ministry of Defence on the use of the Royal Navy in tackling people smuggling and illegal immigration in  (a) the Canary Islands and  (b) the Mediterranean.

Geoff Hoon: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have met with officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office to discuss the influx of migrants in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. Discussion focused on the functioning of Frontex (the EU Border Agency) and its role in co-ordinating EU operations around the Canaries and Malta.

Mental Illness: Employment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures she is taking to promote the employment within  (a) her Department and  (b) public sector bodies for whom she has responsibility of people with mental illnesses in line with the advice and codes of practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission.

Geoff Hoon: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the related public sector bodies are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes. These set out how the FCO carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor, and report on progress. This includes the arrangements for gathering information on the effect of policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of disabled employees, including those with mental health issues, and making use of that information.
	As part of the disability equality scheme the FCO operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants. Candidates with mental health issues who are classified as disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 and who meet the minimum criteria in the job specification at the shortlisting stage, are guaranteed an invitation to the next stage of assessment. To ensure fairness throughout the selection process the FCO works closely with an independent disability adviser to guarantee that reasonable adjustments are made.
	The FCO is an accredited user of the Government's "two ticks" disability symbol, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. This is included on all recruitment advertising to encourage applications from disabled candidates, including those with mental health issues. To promote careers with the FCO, it has undertaken advertising with publications which directly target disabled individuals including Able, Target and Hobsons.
	The FCO also participates in the Cabinet Office summer placement scheme, which offers disabled undergraduate students a six-week placement within selected FCO departments and we will be hosting five candidates in July 2007.
	The public sector bodies sponsored by the department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.

Moldova

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to invite  (a) the President and  (b) other Ministers from Moldova to visit the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK enjoys a constructive relationship with Moldova and welcomes opportunities for further co-operation. Over the last year, we have welcomed many high profile visitors from Moldova to the UK, including Ministers and parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Dr. Marian Lupu, visited the UK in February for meetings with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials. Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration visited the UK in July 2006, and the Minister of Defence, Valeriu Plesca, visited the UK in September 2006, meeting with, among others, the Minister of State, my noble Friend Lord Drayson. I met the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Zinaida Grecianii, on her visit to the UK in November. We continue to look for upcoming opportunities for inward visits from Moldova.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by her Department; what the function is of each body; and what the annual budget of each body was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for the following non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs):
	British Council
	Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
	Westminster Foundation for Democracy
	Great Britain-China Centre
	British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
	Diplomatic Service Appeals Board
	Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
	Wilton Park Academic Council
	Foreign Compensation Commission
	Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the FCO can be found in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 2006', copies of which are available in the Library of the House and which can also be found on the following website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/public-bodies2006.pdf
	The function and budget of each body for the financial year 2006-07 is as follows:
	 Executive NDPBs
	Established in statute and carrying out administrative, regulatory and commercial functions, they employ their own staff and are allocated their own budgets.
	 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
	The Association promotes better understanding between Britain and the countries of Eastern Europe through a programme of exchanges, conferences, seminars and training workshops.
	Budget £167,000
	 British Council
	The British Council connects people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. It operates in 109 countries and achieves its objective through the teaching of English and administering of UK examinations; the promotion of British education and training; knowledge and information, the arts, science, sports and governance.
	Budget £179,503,000
	 Great Britain-China Centre
	To promote closer economic professional, cultural and academic relations between Britain and China; and to encourage mutual knowledge and understanding.
	Budget £300,000
	 Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
	The Marshall Aid Commission has responsibility for the Marshall Scholarships.
	Budget £2,100,000
	 Westminster Foundation for Democracy
	To assist the development of pluralistic democratic institutions overseas. Priority regions are Central/Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa.
	Budget £4,100,000
	 Other Bodies funded from within the FCO's resources:
	 Advisory NDPBs
	Provide independent and expert advice to Ministers on particular topics of interest. Staff from their sponsoring department supports NDPBs. They do not have their own budget, as costs incurred come within the department's expenditure.
	 Diplomatic Service Appeal Board
	To advise the Foreign Secretary whether premature retirement, or termination of an appointment on grounds of failed probation, or on dismissal is fair.
	 The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
	To advise on the purchasing of wine for Government hospitality.
	 Wilton Park Academic Council
	The Council aims to ensure that Wilton Park Agency retains its full academic independence.
	 Tribunal NDPBs
	Have jurisdiction in a specialised field of law. They are supported by staff from their sponsoring department and do not have their own budgets.
	 Foreign Compensation Commission
	The Commission deals with ongoing queries from foreign governments and the public about previous claims, The Commission is also engaged in upgrading information and management systems to make records more readily accessible and to comply with all relevant legislation.

Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal from office of the Speaker of the Somali Parliament on the prospect for a stable, self-governing and democratic Somalia.

Ian McCartney: The position of Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament is a matter for the parliament's MPs. The Speaker was impeached by a parliamentary vote. 183 MPs voted in favour of removing the Speaker, eight voted against and one abstained. The President of the transitional federal government (TFG) must sign into effect the impeachment. Those voting in favour of the impeachment included members of the Speaker's own clan.
	A stable, self-governing and democratic Somalia can only be delivered in the long term by the success of the transitional federal institutions (TFI), including the TFG. The TFG was formed in 2004 out of the Nairobi peace process which brought together leaders from across Somali society to agree the transitional federal charter. This included agreement to a constitutional process eventually leading to elections. All major clans are represented in the TFG, which is recognised by the international community.
	We are pressing the TFG to be inclusive and reach out to all Somalis in seeking a lasting and peaceful solution for Somalia; and urge the TFI to work together for the same objective.

Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to  (a) the African Union,  (b) Ethiopia,  (c) Tanzania and  (d) Kenya on the deployment of international peacekeepers to Somalia.

Ian McCartney: We are working closely with our international partners on this issue. John Sawers, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director-General Political, represented the UK at the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia in Nairobi on 5 January. Other members of the ICG include the African Union (AU), Tanzania and Kenya, in its role as the Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. In its communiqué, the ICG expressed an urgent need for funding to facilitate the deployment of a stabilisation force in Somalia, as envisaged in UN Security Council Resolution 1725. It welcomed Uganda's offer to be part of this force.
	Since the ICG meeting we have had a range of discussions with our international partners on the deployment of an international force to Somalia. These include discussions between: my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Kikwete of Tanzania; my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia; our high commissioner in Nairobi and Foreign Minister Tuju of Kenya; and our ambassador in Addis Ababa and Said Djinnit of the AU's Commission for Peace and Security.

Sri Lanka

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) recent developments in the conflict in Sri Lanka and  (b) the impact of the conflict on civilians.

Kim Howells: The UK is deeply concerned about the increasing violence in Sri Lanka and its impact on the civilian population. At least 80 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the year. Over 200,000 people have been displaced since the fighting began in April 2006.
	Both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam must cease military action and implement the agreements they had reached to reduce the violence. Recent incidents demonstrate that neither side is protecting the civilian population. We urge them to return to the negotiating table in order to prevent a further deterioration of the security situation and the needless loss of more lives.

Uganda

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects of the Lord's Resistance Army taking part in forthcoming peace talks in Uganda; and what steps she is taking to help bring about a peaceful resolution to hostilities in Uganda.

Ian McCartney: The mediation process in Juba, southern Sudan, between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan Government is clearly very fragile. The announcement by the LRA on 12 January that they will not return to Juba is disappointing. The Ugandan Government and the talks mediator, Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar, have confirmed that they wish to resume discussions in Juba and the LRA need to do so as well.
	We have provided financial support to the talks process and continue to urge all parties to demonstrate a strong commitment to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict, which will allow the communities of northern Uganda to start rebuilding their lives.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to  (a) China,  (b) France,  (c) the Russian Federation,  (d) the United States,  (e) Belgium,  (f) the Republic of the Congo,  (g) Ghana,  (h) Indonesia,  (i) Italy,  (j) Panama,  (k) Peru,  (l) Qatar,  (m) Slovakia and  (n) South Africa on (i) Operation Muguta, (ii) economic sanctions on Zimbabwe and (iii) other actions against Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: United Nations Security Council partners are aware of our position on Zimbabwe. We stay in close contact with those countries which particularly share our interest in encouraging the Government of Zimbabwe to reverse its course and restore democracy, the rule of law, and full human rights, such as South Africa, the United States and EU partners.
	We are concerned that Operation Muguta is further disrupting Zimbabwe's already fragile food security. Despite good rainfall last year, Zimbabwe has again failed to produce sufficient grain to meet the food needs of its people, as a result of poor agricultural policies and continuing mismanagement of the economy. The Department for International Development has just contributed an additional £3 million to the World Food programme for its operations in Zimbabwe.
	On the subject of economic sanctions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, on 2 November 2006,  Official Report, column 668W.

TREASURY

Airline Passenger Duty

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what consultations were held with the travel industry before the announcement of the recent increase in air passenger duty;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the travel industry on the effect of the recent increase in air passenger duty on the industry; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Treasury routinely meets with stakeholder groups as part of the policy development process. However the Treasury also balances openness with the need to maintain the confidentiality of tax proposals under consideration for the Chancellor's Budget and pre-Budget reports.
	The decision to increase rates was taken after careful consideration of all environmental, social and economic factors, including the impact on the travel industry of an increase.
	The Chancellor received a number of representations from the travel industry following his 6 December pre-Budget report announcement and Ministers and officials have met with industry representatives to discuss these.

Airline Passenger Duty

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue air passenger duty was raised in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: Information on revenue raised by air passenger duty can be found in Table 1 and Table 2 of the HM Revenue and Customs 'Air Passenger Duty Bulletin' on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=airpass

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many grandparents with primary responsibility for bringing up their grandchildren are in receipt of  (a) child benefit and  (b) child tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available.

Children and Young People Discussion Paper

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department worked to produce the Policy Review on Children and Young People Discussion Paper he published on 9 January;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse was of producing the Policy Review on Children and Young People Discussion Paper published on 9 January.

Edward Balls: There are eight full-time equivalent Treasury staff directly supporting the Review of Children and Young People. They undertake a wide variety of roles, in addition to the production of the discussion paper on 9 January, to ensure the Review is underpinned by robust analysis to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The printing cost of the discussion paper was £7,000.

Clostridium Difficile

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there were where clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths there were where  Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust. (111002)
	Special analyses of deaths involving  Clostridium difficile are undertaken annually by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales. These are published in  Health Statistics Quarterly. The latest year for which such figures are available is 2004. Information on the numbers of deaths between 1999 and 2004 involving  Clostridium difficile were published in  Health Statistics Quarterly 30 in May 2006.(1) Data on Clostridium  difficile-related deaths in 2005 will be published in  Health Statistics Quarterly 33 on February 22(nd) 2007. No figures are routinely available for NHS Trusts.
	(1) Office for National Statistics (2006) Report: Deaths involving  Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 1999-2004.  Health Statistics Quarterly 30, 56-60.

Defence Expenditure

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) Secretary of State for Defence and  (b) Prime Minister on additional allocations of funds for defence.

John Healey: In the course of his official duties the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with other Ministers and officials. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's policy to disclose specific details of these meetings.

EU Budget

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the  (a) net and  (b) gross contributions which each member state of the EU will make to the EU during the next budget cycle (i) in total and (ii) per head of population.

Edward Balls: The Government's latest forecast of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget in 2006-07 and 2007-08 can be found in footnote 3 to Table B16 (page 240) of the pre-Budget report of December 2006. The equivalent gross contribution forecast, after taking account of the United Kingdom abatement, in these two financial years is £7.9 billion and £9.8 billion respectively. Based on Eurostat population figures for the United Kingdom in 2005 (60,034.5 thousand) the net and gross contribution, post abatement, per head in each of these two financial years would be £47 net, £132 gross (2006-07) and £75 net, £163 gross (2007-08). HM Treasury does not, as a matter of course, forecast the gross and net contributions of all the other member states as this is a matter for their respective Governments. Figures for the 2007 gross contribution of each member state will be included in the 2007 EC adopted budget which will be published in the European Commission's  Official Journal, L (Legislation) series, in due course.

Irrecoverable VAT

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the annual cost to the voluntary sector of irrecoverable VAT; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the value of Gift Aid to the voluntary sector in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect data on the voluntary sector's irrecoverable VAT costs.
	The voluntary sector's irrecoverable VAT costs have been considered by the Government in two major reviews since 1997. In the course of these reviews it was not possible to find a VAT solution that was practical, efficient, affordable, well-targeted and based on principle. Available resources are better and more effectively deployed through the existing tax reliefs and targeted initiatives and support.
	HMRC does not hold information about the amount of Gift Aid reclaimed by the voluntary sector; however the amounts donated by individuals and tax reclaimed by charities under Gift Aid for the years 2003-04 to 2005-06 are published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm
	Gift Aid forms part of over £2.7 billion of tax relief for charities and charitable giving that we provide each year, which also includes £200 million in reliefs from VAT. These tax reliefs are in addition to broader Government funding for the voluntary and community sector, which stands at over £3.3 billion per year.

Mosaic Data

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs use mosaic data.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1079W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles).

National Minimum Wage

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) workers were assisted by the national minimum wage helpline in recouping money underpaid by their employer and  (b) employers (i) were investigated, (ii) had enforcement orders issued to them and (iii) (A) were and (B) are subject to criminal proceedings for non-payment of the national minimum wage in the Wakefield constituency in the last period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: National minimum wage statistical data are not held by reference to constituency.

Office for National Statistics

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2007 (113799),  Official Report, column 838-9W, on the Office for National Statistics, what the status is of each of the Freedom of Information applications made to the Office for National Statistics in 2006.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
	As National Statistician I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the current status is of each of the Freedom of Information applications made to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2006. (110532)
	The quarterly report Freedom of Information Act 2000, Statistics on the Implementation in Central Government which can be found in the House of Commons library, contains the statistics you require on the outcomes of Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Office for National Statistics. Reports have been published so far for the first three quarters of 2006.
	In the final quarter of 2006, ONS received 29 requests, of these 3 are still out-standing, and 26 have been completed. Of the completed requests ONS provided the information in full in 8 cases and withheld the information in full or in part on 5 occasions. On 12 occasions ONS found that it did not hold the information, or that it was readily available elsewhere and on one occasion the request was found to be vexatious.

Savings Gateway Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what agreement was reached between his Department and Halifax Bank of Scotland when setting up the Savings Gateway Scheme on the distribution to users of the scheme of mass mailed offers of credit.

Edward Balls: Halifax has not mass mailed offers of credit to Saving Gateway customers. The contract between Halifax, DfES, HMRC and HMT states that members of the HBOS group will only market their own products at the specific request of the customer, unless the customer is an existing HBOS customer, in which case existing marketing arrangements will remain.

Savings Gateway Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the size of the bonus paid into accounts through the Savings Gateway Scheme varies according to area.

Edward Balls: The Saving Gateway is an account targeted at low-income households, delivering a strong incentive to save regularly through the Government matching money saved in the account. The first Saving Gateway pilot used a match rate of £1 for £1; however the second Saving Gateway pilot is testing the effects of alternative match rates of £1 for £1, £2 and £5 and contribution limits, initial endowments and the support of a range of financial education bodies.

Savings Gateway Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place between his Department and Halifax Bank of Scotland on the type of account that money is transferred to on completion of the Savings Gateway Scheme.

Edward Balls: On completion of the Saving Gateway, the participant's money is transferred into a Halifax Liquid Gold account. This was proposed by HBOS in discussion with Treasury officials as it was an existing Saving account and the IT could be adapted quickly to accommodate the Saving Gateway pilot.

Self-assessment

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people are employed to process self-assessment tax returns; and at what cost in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of how much additional tax was  (a) collected and  (b) rebated in 2006 as a result of the self-assessment process.

Dawn Primarolo: The numbers of staff deployed on processing self assessment tax returns, and the related salary costs, for the last three years are shown in the table as follows.
	
		
			   Staff( 1)  Cost( 2)  (£) 
			 2005-06 1,858.36 43,992,454.81 
			 2004-05 1,891.00 36,571,852.81 
			 2003-04 2,005.91 37,088,722.85 
			 (1 )Staff numbers are expressed as full time equivalents (2 )Cost is based on average salaries 
		
	
	The total amount of income tax, class 4 national insurance contributions and capital gains tax collected under Income Tax Self Assessment in the year 2005-06 was £27.998 billion and £4.533 billion was repaid.

Stamp Duty

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of first-time house buyers were exempted from stamp duty land tax in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

Edward Balls: HMRC administrative systems do not identify whether a stamp duty land taxpayer is a first time buyer and nor do they distinguish house purchases from other residential transactions. It is not therefore possible to derive regional percentages. However, it is estimated that over half of all first time home buyers are exempt from stamp duty, taking into account the £125,000 starting threshold and the enhanced £150,000 threshold which is available in 2,000 disadvantaged wards.

Tax Credits

Jim Devine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in Livingston constituency  (a) are in receipt of working tax credit and  (b) received working tax credit in the first year the scheme was introduced;
	(2)  how many people in Livingston constituency  (a) are in receipt of child tax credit and  (b) received child tax credit in the first year the scheme was introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimated numbers of families benefiting from tax credits are available only for in-work families. The average number in 2004-05 of such families with positive awards in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, is published in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2004-05 Geographical Analysis". This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Information for 2005-06 awards is due to be published in May 2007.
	Information for 2003-04 is not available for the Livingston constituency in its current boundaries.

Unemployment Statistics

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many, and what percentage of, young people in Chorley were unemployed in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the number of unemployed people, aged 16 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency, for the 12 months ending in February 1999 and 2000, from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005, from the APS and the corresponding unemployment rates which are defined as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the economically active population in the relevant age group. These are the only years for which the sample sizes are sufficient to provide estimates.
	The estimates in Table 1 are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area. They are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over the period.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people aged 18 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency, claiming ISA from 1997 to 2006.
	
		
			  Table 1: Unemployed persons, aged 16 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending  Level  Rate( 1)  (Percentage) 
			 February 1999 1 12.1 
			 February 2000 1 13.7 
			 March 2005 1 11.4 
			 (1) Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population.  Notes:  Estimates are subject to random variability. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution.  Source:  Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Annual average number of claimants of jobseeker's allowance aged 18 to 24, resident in the Chorley constituency 
			   Number 
			 1997 465 
			 1998 380 
			 1999 360 
			 2000 310 
			 2001 290 
			 2002 265 
			 2003 275 
			 2004 235 
			 2005 275 
			 2006 325 
			  Source:  Jobcentre Plus administrative data

Unemployment Statistics

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of young people in  (a) the London borough of Bexley and  (b) Bexleyheath and Crayford were unemployed in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (117288)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the numbers of unemployed, aged 16 to 24, resident in the London Borough of Bexley and in the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. For the 12 months ending in February from 1997 to 2004 data are from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 and 2006 data are from the APS. The corresponding unemployment rates are defined as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the economically active population in the relevant age group.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over the period.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people aged 18 to 24, resident in the London Borough of Bexley and the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, claiming JSA from 1997 to 2006. The figures for Bexley are also expressed as a percentage of the official estimates of the 18 to 24 population, resident in the area. Corresponding proportions for the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency are not available by age group.
	
		
			  Table 1: Unemployed persons, aged 16 to 24 resident in the London borough of Bexley and the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency 
			   Bexley  Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			  12 months ending:  Level (Thousand)  Rate( 1)  (Percentage)  Level (Thousand)  Rate( 1)  (Percentage) 
			 February 1997 3 12.9 (2)— (2)— 
			 February 1998 2 10.6 1 13.9 
			 February 1999 2 11.0 1 10.9 
			 February 2000 2 11.8 (2)— (2)— 
			 February 2001 1 5.3 (2)— (2)— 
			 February 2002 1 7.6 1 11.0 
			 February 2003 1 6.1 1 7.7 
			 February 2004 1 7.8 (2)— (2)— 
			 March 2005 1 6.9 1 12.8 
			 March 2006 3 16.3 (2)— (2)— 
			 (1) Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population. (2) Sample size too small to provide estimates.  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to random variability. 2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution.  Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Annual average number of claimants of jobseeker's allowance, aged 18 to 24 resident in the London borough of Bexley and the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency 
			   Bexley  Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			   Level  Proportion( 1)  (Percentage)  Level 
			 1997 1,295 7.9 450 
			 1998 935 5.7 320 
			 1999 745 4.5 260 
			 2000 615 3.7 215 
			 2001 540 3.3 175 
			 2002 605 3.6 190 
			 2003 690 4.0 225 
			 2004 750 4.2 260 
			 2005 795 4.4 290 
			 2006 915 5.0 330 
			 (1) Proportion of official population estimates. Not available for parliamentary constituencies.  Notes: 1. Claimant count data by age includes computerised claims only. 2. Dataset rounded to the nearest 5.  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative data.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research projects have been  (a) initiated and  (b) commissioned by the Valuation Office Agency in the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: In the last five years the following research projects have been both  (a) initiated and  (b) commissioned by the Valuation Office Agency:
	Development and Implementation of an Automated Valuation Model (AVM)
	Joint research into the development of a definitive address database within Government (ACACIA)

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits representatives from the Valuation Office Agency have made to Hong Kong in the last five years; and for what purpose.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 16 January 2007
	Valuation Office Agency (VOA) staff have made seven visits to Hong Kong in the last five years. One visit was to a property tax conference. The remainder were to the Rating and Valuation Department, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region). This destination was inadvertently omitted from my answer on 30 November 2006,  Official Report, column 854W.

VAT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether it is HM Revenue and Customs' policy to apply  (a) extended verification and  (b) other supplementary VAT procedures in respect of (i) certain industrial sectors, (ii) selected companies and (iii) more generally;
	(2)  whether his Department has informed traders in the mobile telephone and computer-chip industries when they can expect to receive the VAT repayments that are under extended review;
	(3)  for what reason his Department has placed VAT repayments for traders in the mobile telephone and computer-chip industries under extended review.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has a duty to protect tax revenues, including taking steps to counter inaccurate, fraudulent or abusive repayment claims. HMRC is entitled to verify VAT repayment claims to ensure that they are properly payable. Decisions to verify repayment claims or take other action to improve taxpayer compliance are made on the basis of perceived risk and are applied across the whole VAT register.
	Given the very complex nature of missing trader intra-community-MTIC-fraud, HM Revenue and Customs needs time to pursue inquiries and consider the consequences of all that they find. As soon as a VAT repayment claim is selected for verification HM Revenue and Customs fully explains the verification process in writing. Updates are also provided on a regular basis throughout the process. Only when inquiries are completed will HM Revenue and Customs advise claimants of the outcome.
	Last year the level of VAT repayment claims from those suspected of trading in supply chains associated with MTIC fraud rose very rapidly, without known economic or commercial reason. As a result, HMRC is verifying a greater proportion of VAT repayment claims from businesses dealing in goods, such as mobile phones and computer chips, and with other sectors known to be associated with MTIC fraud. In order to ensure that its action is proportionate, HMRC has deployed an additional 600 staff to enable these verification checks to be carried out efficiently and effectively.

World Economic Forum

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which member of the Government will represent the UK at the World Economic Forum in Davos in July.

Edward Balls: At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2007, the UK will be represented by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Ministers.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of children that will be lifted out of poverty by increasing the benefit disregard with regard to child maintenance payments across all child support cases to  (a) £15,  (b) £20,  (c) £25,  (d) £30,  (e) £35,  (f) £40,  (g) £45 and  (h) £50 in each year from 2008-09 to 2015-16;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the benefit disregard with regard to child maintenance payments across all child support cases to  (a) £15,  (b) £20,  (c) £25,  (d) £30,  (e) £35,  (f) £40,  (g) £45 and  (h) £50 in each year from 2008-09 to 2015-16.

James Plaskitt: The number of children lifted out of poverty and cost of increasing the levels of the child maintenance disregard in income support, jobseekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit in 2009-10 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Level of disregard  Number of children lifted out of poverty  Cost in extra benefit expenditure (£ million) 
			 £20 n/a 50 
			 £30 30,000-40,000 100 
			 £40 40,000-50,000 140 
			 £50 50,000-60,000 170 
			 n/a = not available  Notes: 1. Number of children lifted out of poverty is defined here as the number of children in households lifted above 60 per cent. of equivalised median household income before housing costs by increasing the level of the disregard. 2. Estimates provided are indicative and should only be used to give some idea of scale, since there is uncertainty over future distributions of earnings and maintenance receipts, and figures are sensitive to the assumptions used and drawn from a sample of data. 3. Figures for the number of children lifted out of poverty by a £20 disregard are not available due to a small sample size. 4. Poverty figures are based on analysis of 2004-05 Family Resources Survey and are rounded to the nearest 10,000. 5. Costs are calculated to the nearest £10 million and are based upon a combination of DWP administrative and survey data. 
		
	
	Information for other years and other levels of disregard are not currently available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is to the Exchequer in each year from 2008-09 to 2013-14 of extending the £10 benefit disregard to cases on the original child maintenance scheme in accordance with the proposal contained in the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance.'

James Plaskitt: The estimated cost of extending the £10 benefit disregard to cases on the original child support scheme, assuming that the introduction takes place towards the end of 2008 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Estimated cost (£ million) 
			 2008-09 (part year) 10 
			 2009-10 20 
			 2010-11 15 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million. 
		
	
	Precise costs for years after 2010-11 are not currently available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are planned to be used to identify those described on page 25 of the White Paper, A new system of child maintenance, as those non-resident parents who are most at risk of not paying maintenance.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are planned to be used to identify those described on page 25 of the White Paper. A new system of child maintenance as those non-resident parents who are most a risk of not paying maintenance.
	The section of the White Paper quoted refers to the commitment in the Child Support Agency Operational Improvement Plan to develop risk profiles to enable the Agency to focus its efforts on those who are unlikely to pay. The analytical model and operational procedures to support such a process are still under development. As such, it is not currently possible to say what criteria will be used to identify those non-resident parents most at risk of non-payment.
	The Agency is exploring which of the data it holds and which other available information including Credit Reference data can be used to risk profile non-resident parents and predict the likelihood of compliance.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus staff he expects to work full time on manual processing of the £10 benefit disregard to cases on the original child maintenance scheme as described on page 35 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance'.

James Plaskitt: Ending the requirement that parents with care claiming benefits be treated as applying for child maintenance will free up resource in Jobcentre Plus, allowing Jobcentre Plus staff to apply the £10 disregard as an integral part of processing the benefit application, using the existing IT. We do not expect there to be full-time manual processing of the disregard.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many child maintenance applications were received by Jobcentre Plus in each year since 2001.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many child maintenance applications were received by Job Centre Plus in each year since 2001.
	Child maintenance applications are received by the Child Support Agency, not by Jobcentre Plus. However, new applicants for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based) where there is a child support interest are obliged to make a child maintenance application under section 6 of the current legislation and, as such, their details are referred by Jobcentre Plus to the Child Support Agency in order to facilitate this.
	The number of applications that the Child Support Agency has received each month can be found in table 2.1 of the September 2006 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS), which shows all applications received by the Agency as well as those potential applications received directly from Jobcentre Plus. A copy of the QSS is publicly available, and can be found in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet via the following link: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa__quarterly_sep06.asp.
	This information is only available since March 2003 when the new scheme was introduced.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how he plans to assess families on the current child support system in order to focus transitional arrangements on the poorest families first as described on page 53 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance';
	(2)  whether legislation will be required to gather the information required to assess families on the current child support system in order to focus transitional arrangements on the poorest families first as described on p.53 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance'; and what the resource implications are of the carrying out of these assessments;
	(3)  if he will consider both families of parents with care and families of non-resident parents when considering the prioritisation of the poorest families as described on p.53 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance'.

James Plaskitt: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) will be responsible for developing the detailed proposals for the transition of existing cases to the new system for child maintenance. The principles guiding this, as set out in the White Paper, 'A new system of child maintenance' (Cm 6979), will be to ensure that the transition to the new regime is driven by child poverty considerations. This may mean focusing efforts initially on parents with care who have yet to receive a maintenance assessment to allow them opportunity to secure maintenance payments.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the funding which will be made available to support the Child Support Operational Improvement Plan discussed on page 54 of the White Paper, A new system of child maintenance, in each year from 2007-08 to 2013-14.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the funding which will be made available to support the Child Support Operational Improvement Plan discussed on page 54 of the White Paper A new system of child maintenance in each year from 2007-08 to 2013-14.
	On 9(th) February 2006, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton announced that an additional £120 million could be made available to fund the three year Operational Improvement Plan.
	The breakdown of the projected spend of this £120 million is included in the table below separated by year:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 5.9 
			 2007-08 66.8 
			 2008-09 47.3 
			 Total 120 
		
	
	The Operational Improvement Plan concludes in the year 2008/09, and as such no further funding is expected to be available beyond this point.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the possibility of extending the proposal to use the latest available tax year information as the basis for calculating a child maintenance liability, made in the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' to  (a) existing cases on the Child Support Agency (CSA) system and  (b) new applications to the CSA with effect from a date in late 2007.

James Plaskitt: Latest tax year information can only be used in calculating the income of a non-resident parent if gross income is used, rather than net. The primary legislation currently in force for all child support cases requires that net income be used. Therefore the use of latest tax year information can only begin after primary legislation has altered the basis for calculating income and this has been followed by secondary legislation setting out detailed rules. In addition to these legislative issues, an effective operational system for the transfer of information will need to be developed, once Parliament has approved the use of gross income as the basis of liability. For all of these reasons, introduction by the end of 2007 is not possible.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on pension contributions of the decision to use gross rather than net weekly income as the basis for calculating maintenance liabilities as proposed in the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance'.

James Plaskitt: As stated at paragraph 4.18 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' (Cm 6979) published on 13 December, further detailed work is needed to determine how the new system of assessing liability will treat pension contributions, because the tax system handles different types of pension contributions differently.

Child Maintenance Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposal to explore the scope for legislation to enable the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to authorise financial institutions to pay maintenance owed from a non-resident parent's account proposed on page 73 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' with UK and European human rights legislation.

James Plaskitt: As part of the policy development process, we will consider compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights of the proposals announced in the White Paper, 'A new system of child maintenance', including administrative Deduction Orders.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were in poverty whose parents were  (a) in work and  (b) receiving benefits in each of the last five years.

Jim Murphy: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  (a) Children in poverty (defined as those households with income below 60 per cent. of the GB median) whose parents were in work( 1) , 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  Number (million) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Before housing costs 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 
			 After housing costs 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 
			 (1) In work has been defined as where the economic status of the family unit is one of the following: one or more self-employed single/couple all in full-time work couple/one in full-time, one part-time couple, one full-time, one not working no full-time, one or more part-time.  Source: Family Resources Survey 1996-97 to 2004-05. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Children in poverty (defined as those households with income below 60 per cent. of the GB median) whose parents were receiving benefits, 1997-98 to 2004-05. Virtually all families with children received child benefit therefore the numbers given are the total number of families with children in poverty, including all those with parents in work 
			  Number (million) 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Before housing costs 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.4 
			 After housing costs 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.3 
			  Source: Family Resources Survey 1996-97 to 2004-05.

Child Poverty

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what background data supports the estimate that child maintenance payments lift 100,000 children out of poverty made on page 17 of the White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance'.

James Plaskitt: Analysis of data from the 2003-04 Family Resources Survey suggests that if no one received any maintenance, then 100,000 extra children would be living in poverty.
	 Notes:
	Poverty is defined here as living in a household which has income below 60 per cent. of equivalised median income before housing costs.
	Figure is rounded to nearest 10,000.

Child Support

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on the role to be played by the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service under future arrangements for child support.

James Plaskitt: Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills meet frequently on a range of issues of common interest, including child maintenance reform where both Departments are working together to ensure that parents are supported to realise their responsibilities to support their children.

Child Support

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants in  (a) the United Kingdom,  (b) each region and  (c) each London borough did not receive the full child support payments to which they were entitled in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1984-7W.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the existing chief executive of the Child Support Agency (CSA) will also be chief executive of the new body set up to replace the CSA; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: As we announced in the White Paper, we will establish a Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) to replace the Child Support Agency. C-MEC will be led by the new position of Commissioner for Child Maintenance.
	We expect to make key C-MEC appointments in 2007-8. These appointments will be on a provisional basis (pending Royal Assent of a Bill to reform the child maintenance system). New senior appointments will follow guidelines from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in each Child Support Agency call centre were assigned to the legacy child support computer system at the end of each month since January 2006; and how many staff were assigned to the new CS2 system during that period.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in each Child Support Agency call centre were assigned to the legacy Child Support computer system at the end of each month since January 2006; and how many staff were assigned to the new CS2 system during that period.
	Agency people at each of the National Helpline sites have access to both the Child Support Computer System (CSCS) and the new computer system (CS2), except the Silkhouse Court site in Liverpool which has access to CSCS only and has primary responsibility for calls relating to this system. The other National Helpline teams have access to both computer systems in case any calls are diverted from the Liverpool office, or calls are received regarding cases with links between the two computer systems. However, the primary responsibility of these sites is the CS2 system.
	The attached table shows the number of Agency people working on the National Helpline who have access to both computer systems and those who have access to CSCS only.
	I hope you find this information helpful.
	
		
			  The number of agency people working on the National Helpline who have access to both computer systems and those who have access to the CSCS only 
			   January 2006  February 2006  March 2006  April  2006  May  2006  June  2006 
			  Child Support computer system only   
			 Full-time equivalent 97 99 114 108 119 118 
			 Individuals 115 123 134 134 141 140 
			
			  CS2 and Child Support computer system   
			 Full-time equivalent 332 357 350 341 347 345 
			 Individuals 415 417 434 446 446 438 
		
	
	
		
			   July  2006  August 2006  September 2006  October 2006  November 2006  December 2006 
			  Child Support computer system only   
			 Full-time equivalent 111 111 117 118 115 115 
			 Individuals 133 133 142 147 142 142 
			
			  CS2 and Child Support computer system   
			 Full-time equivalent 350 349 361 357 351 349 
			 Individuals 447 435 451 452 445 443

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the sanctions available to the Child Support Agency to apply against non-compliant non-resident parents.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency is currently able to apply to the magistrates court, seeking an order to disqualify the non-resident parent from driving (for a maximum of two years) or to commit the non-resident parent to prison (for no longer than 42 days).

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deduction from earnings orders were applied through the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deduction from earnings orders were applied through the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available.
	Such information as is available is presented in the attached table.
	The number of cases which have a deduction from earnings order (DEO) or a deduction from earnings request (DER) as an agreed method of maintenance collection at yearly intervals from November 1995 to September 2006:
	
		
			  Month ending  Cases with DEO or DER as method of maintenance collection 
			 November 1995 41,000 
			 November 1996 64,000 
			 November 1997 91,000 
			 November 1998 119,000 
			 November 1999 136,000 
			 November 2000 141,000 
			 November 2001 139,000 
			 November 2002 139,000 
			 November 2003 — 
			 November 2004 136,000 
			 November 2005 153,000 
			 September 2006 165,000 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. The table includes deduction from earnings orders (DEOs) and deduction from earnings request (DERs). DERs are the equivalent method of collection when the non-resident parent is a member of the armed forces. 3. November 1995 is the earliest month for which data is available and September 2006 is the most recent. Data on the old scheme prior to March 2003 are only available quarterly for irregular quarters (February, May, August, and November). As such, figures are shown at yearly intervals from November 1995 onwards except for September 2006. 4. Robust information covering the period March 2003 to February 2004 is not currently available, so no figure is available for November 2003. 5. The table includes those old scheme cases with a full maintenance assessment, and those new scheme cases with either a full maintenance calculation, or a default maintenance decision. Old scheme cases with a punitive interim maintenance assessment (an imposed assessment due to the non co-operation of the non-resident parent), a small number of which would have deductions from earnings orders in place, are excluded from this analysis in line with the Agency's target definitions, as are new scheme cases being processed clerically.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what definition his Department uses of  (a) uncollectable and  (b) collectable Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is  (a) probably uncollectable and  (b) possibly collectable; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 24 January 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
	what definition his Department uses for (a) uncollectable and (b) collectable Child Support Agency arrears; and if he will make a statement. (102240)
	what definitions his Department uses for unpaid Child Support Agency maintenance that is (a) probably uncollectable and (b) possibly uncollectable; and if he will make a statement. (102242)
	The Agency undertakes an annual debt analysis exercise to establish the collectability of amounts outstanding. This analysis produces three categories of amounts outstanding — collectable, possibly uncollectable and probably uncollectable, which are the equivalents of good, doubtful and bad debts in commercial organisations. As stated in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06, note 5.7, these are defined as:
	 Collectable
	Amount outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed is likely to be collected. This takes into account factors such as regular contact with the non-resident parent, where regular payments are being made or an arrears agreement has been set up.
	 Possibly Uncollectable
	Amounts outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed some uncertainty over whether it will be collected. The amounts are considered doubtful where, for example, payments have been infrequent or it has not been possible to establish an arrears agreement or impose a deduction of earning order.
	 Probably Uncollectable
	Amount outstanding that the debt analysis exercise revealed, is likely to be very difficult to collect due, for example, to the lack of contact with, or the personal circumstance of, the non-resident parent.
	The amount of debt categorised a probably uncollectable in the Agency Annual Report and Accounts also includes the value of suspended debt, which is classified as probably uncollectable for this exercise.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Definitions of Poverty

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of poverty for older people is used by  (a) his Department and  (b) the EU.

James Purnell: The Department does not have a single official measure of poverty for older people. Specific information regarding low income is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994-95 -2004-05". The threshold of below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	Indicators of material well being, including income and wealth, are reported on as part of the Government's "Opportunity for All" strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion, and as part of "Opportunity Age", its strategy for an ageing society.
	The agreed EU definition of the risk of poverty among the elderly is the proportion of people aged 65 and over with an equivalised income of less than 60 per cent. of the overall median equivalised income, calculated separately for each member state. This differs from the Department's measure of low income which takes into account all pensioners, that is, includes women aged 60-64, and looks at income both before and after housing costs.
	The EU also reports on a number of other indicators of income and living conditions, reflecting the fact that having an income below the 60 per cent. of median income threshold is not the only indicator of poverty.

Job Vacancies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were notified to the jobcentre in Peterborough constituency in each month since May 1997.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency 
			  Month of notification  Number of vacancies 
			 April 2004 680 
			 May 2004 690 
			 June 2004 560 
			 July 2004 660 
			 August 2004 660 
			 September 2004 690 
			 October 2004 1,240 
			 November 2004 780 
			 December 2004 630 
			 January 2005 500 
			 February 2005 670 
			 March 2005 530 
			 April 2005 700 
			 May 2005 540 
			 June 2005 530 
			 July 2005 580 
			 August 2005 630 
			 September 2005 900 
			 October 2005 870 
			 November 2005 790 
			 December 2005 510 
			 January 2006 510 
			 February 2006 520 
			 March 2006 610 
			 April 2006 1,070 
			 May 2006 880 
			 June 2006 610 
			 July 2006 830 
			 August 2006 1,020 
			 September 2006 1,220 
			 October 2006 980 
			 November 2006 850 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Jobcentre Plus boundaries do not match directly to parliamentary constituency boundaries. Therefore, figures quoted are aggregate totals for vacancies notified in the Peterborough parliamentary constituency. 3. Figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in the labour market.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System

National Insurance Numbers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) new national insurance numbers were registered and  (b) new workers there were in the UK in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: There were 1,486,312 National Insurance numbers issued in 2005. There have been 1,369,652 National Insurance numbers issued up to 31 October 2006.
	The number of National Insurance numbers issued includes the following:
	1. children who reach 16 years of age (the juvenile registration process);
	2. UK adults who missed out on the juvenile registration process and;
	3. foreign nationals who enter the UK and require a NINO for benefit, tax credit or employment purposes (adult NINO allocation process). Possession of a NINO does not in itself give any automatic right to benefit, tax credits or employment. Any claims to benefit or tax credits would be subject to normal entitlement rules.
	The latest data available from the Labour Force Survey estimates that the number of people in employment has increased from 28.79 million to 28.99 million, an increase of around 192,000 over the last year.
	 Note:
	Data compares July-September 2006 and July-September 2005.
	 Source:
	Labour Market Statistics First Release, November 2006.

New Deal

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many, and what proportion of, individuals participating in the New Deal for Young People are participating in the programme for the  (a) first,  (b) second and  (c) third time.

Jim Murphy: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Participants on New Deal for Young People 
			  New deal for young people  Total  Percentage of total 
			 Participants as at May 2006 95,120 100 
			  Of which:   
			 Participating for the first time 61,350 64 
			 Participating for the second time 21,770 23 
			 Participating for the third time 8,540 9 
			  Notes: 1. Latest participant data is to May 2006. 2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

Pension Credit

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each local authority ward in Peterborough constituency receive pension credit; and what the total cost was of these payments in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The answer is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Household recipients of pension credit and the cost of pension credit expenditure for wards in Peterborough parliamentary constituency May 2006 
			  Ward name  Number of household recipients  May 2006  Annual pension credit expenditure 2005-06 (£ million) 
			 Bretton North 410 1.0 
			 Bretton South 110 0.3 
			 Central 525 1.8 
			 Dogsthorpe 620 1.6 
			 East 570 1.6 
			 North 440 1.1 
			 Park 375 0.9 
			 Paston 380 1.0 
			 Ravensthorpe 320 0.9 
			 Walton 230 0.5 
			 Werrington North 260 0.7 
			 Werrington South 265 0.5 
			 West 285 0.6 
			 Peterborough parliamentary constituency total 4,770 12.4 
			  Notes: 1. Expenditure figures are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2006 and are rounded to the nearest 100,000. 2. The number of households in receipt are rounded to a multiple of five. 3. As a result of 1. and 2. ward totals may not sum to area totals. 4. Caseloads and average weekly amounts for May 2006 have been used to calculate the annual expenditure figures for each ward in Peterborough parliamentary constituency. 5. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. 6. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data

Pension Credit

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in St. Albans constituency are claiming pension credit.

James Purnell: As at August 2006 2,460 households in the St. Albans constituency were receiving pension credit.
	 Notes:
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest ten.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory and are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source:
	DWP 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.

Pension Credit

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for pension credit in the London borough of Bexley were  (a) granted and  (b) refused in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The information is not available.

Pension Credit

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) the London borough of Bexley and  (b) Bexleyheath and Crayford are in receipt of pension credit.

James Purnell: As at August 2006 the number of households in receipt of pension credit for  (a)Bexley local authority was 7,350 and  (b) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency was 2,810.
	 Notes:
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest ten.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies and local authority areas are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. Constituencies are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source:
	DWP 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.

Pension Credit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claim pension credit in Chorley constituency.

James Purnell: As at August 2006, 4,160 households in the Chorley constituency were receiving pension credit.
	 Notes
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory and are therefore based on the 2005 parliamentary boundaries.
	4. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source
	DWP 100 per cent. data from the generalised matching service (GMS) pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.

Pensioner Poverty

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to protect pensioners from cost of living increases in excess of earnings growth.

James Purnell: The law relating to social security benefits currently requires the Secretary of State to review pension levels each year to see if they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices. If they have not, the Secretary of State is required to increase them.
	We gave a guarantee that the basic state pension would increase by 2.5 per cent. or the retail prices index, whichever is higher, during the life of this Parliament.
	Between 1997-98 and 2006-07 pensioners have benefited from above-inflation increases in the basic state pension, with pensioners better off by 9 per cent. in real terms than if the basic state pension had been increased only by prices over the same period. Under reform the basic state pension will be uprated in line with average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next Parliament. We have said that we will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament.
	Different groups and individuals will face different inflation rates because of their different spending patterns. There is, however, little evidence to suggest the rates of inflation pensioners face are substantially different from, or higher than, the rates of the population as a whole over the long term. If anything, published ONS statistics show that over the last 18 years all pensioners have—on average—faced slightly lower inflation than working age people.
	Fuel prices have risen since 2003, but this follows a period of no change between 1997 and 2003. Across this period pensioners have seen improvements in their incomes; between 1996-97 and 2004-05 pensioners' net incomes increased by 25 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 15 per cent. real terms increase in utility bills between 1996-97 and 2006. It is important to note that whilst pensioner incomes tend to increase on a linear basis, utility prices tend to fluctuate.
	At the time the earnings link is restored, the proportion the basic state pension represents in terms of earnings will remain constant and it will continue to hold its value over time, relative to earnings.

Pensioners Overseas

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of  (a) a public sector pension and  (b) a state pension live abroad, broken down by country of habitation.

James Purnell: Information about people in receipt of public service pensions who live abroad is not available. The information about state pension paid to people living outside of Great Britain is in the following table.
	
		
			  Recipients of state pension living abroad, broken down by country of habitation 
			  Country  Number of pensioners in receipt of state pension 
			 Afghanistan — 
			 Albania — 
			 Algeria — 
			 Andorra — 
			 Anguilla — 
			 Antigua — 
			 Antilles (Netherlands) — 
			 Arab Emirates — 
			 Argentina — 
			 Ascension Island — 
			 Australia 245,000 
			 Austria 5,000 
			 Bahamas — 
			 Bahrain — 
			 Bangladesh 3,000 
			 Barbados 5,000 
			 Belgium 5,000 
			 Belize — 
			 Bermuda — 
			 Bolivia — 
			 Botswana — 
			 Brazil — 
			 Bulgaria — 
			 Canada 153,000 
			 Cayman Islands — 
			 Chile — 
			 China Peoples Republic — 
			 Columbia — 
			 Costa Rica — 
			 Cyprus 11,000 
			 Denmark 2,000 
			 Djibouti — 
			 Dominica Commonwealth 1,000 
			 Dominican Republic — 
			 Ecuador — 
			 Egypt — 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia — 
			 Fiji — 
			 Finland — 
			 France 35,000 
			 Gambia — 
			 Germany 34,000 
			 Ghana — 
			 Gibraltar — 
			 Greece 3,000 
			 Grenada 1,000 
			 Guam — 
			 Guinea — 
			 Guyana — 
			 Hong Kong 1,000 
			 Hungary — 
			 Iceland — 
			 India 5,000 
			 Indonesia — 
			 Iraq — 
			 Isle of Man — 
			 Israel 4,000 
			 Italy 33,000 
			 Jamaica 22,000 
			 Japan — 
			 Kampuchea — 
			 Kenya — 
			 Kuwait — 
			 Lebanon — 
			 Lesotho — 
			 Liechtenstein — 
			 Luxembourg — 
			 Malagasy Republic — 
			 Malawi — 
			 Malaysia — 
			 Maldive Islands — 
			 Malta 4,000 
			 Mauritius — 
			 Mexico — 
			 Monaco — 
			 Montserrat — 
			 Morocco — 
			 Namibia — 
			 Netherlands 8,000 
			 Nevis St. Kitts Nevis — 
			 New Caledonia — 
			 New Zealand 47,000 
			 Nigeria 3,000 
			 Norway 1,000 
			 Oman — 
			 Pakistan 6,000 
			 Panama — 
			 Paraguay — 
			 Peru — 
			 Philippines 1,000 
			 Poland 2,000 
			 Portugal 6,000 
			 Qatar — 
			 Republic of Belarus — 
			 Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina — 
			 Republic of Croatia — 
			 Republic of Ireland 104,000 
			 Republic of Kyrgyzstan — 
			 Republic of Latvia — 
			 Republic of Lithuania — 
			 Republic of Slovenia — 
			 Republic of Turkmenistan — 
			 Republic of Uzbekistan — 
			 Republic of Yemen 3,000 
			 Rumania — 
			 Saudi Arabia — 
			 Senegal — 
			 Seychelles — 
			 Sierra Leone — 
			 Singapore — 
			 South Africa 38,000 
			 South Korea — 
			 Spain 76,000 
			 Sri Lanka — 
			 St. Helena and Dependencies — 
			 St. Lucia 1,000 
			 St. Vincent and Grenadines — 
			 Swaziland — 
			 Sweden 2,000 
			 Switzerland 5,000 
			 Syria — 
			 Taiwan — 
			 Tanzania — 
			 Thailand 1,000 
			 The Czech Republic — 
			 The Russian Federation — 
			 The Slovak Republic — 
			 Tours — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 1,000 
			 Tunisia — 
			 Turkey — 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands — 
			 Uganda — 
			 Ukraine — 
			 Uruguay — 
			 USA 127,000 
			 USSR — 
			 Vanuatu — 
			 Venezuela — 
			 Vietnam — 
			 Virgin Islands (British) — 
			 Virgin Islands (USA) — 
			 Yugoslavia — 
			 Zambia — 
			 Zimbabwe 3,000 
			 Total 1,027,000 
			  Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000. Case loads less than 1,000 are denoted by '—'.  Source: March 2006 DWP Retirement Pension administrative data.

Pensioners: Wales

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who were living in Wales when receiving their state retirement pension subsequently moved to live abroad in each year between 1990 and 2005.

James Purnell: The information requested is not available.

Pensions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the Basic State Pension was as a percentage of national average earnings in  (a) 1981,  (b) 1991,  (c) 1997 and  (d) 2006; what percentage it is forecast to be in 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1578W, at what percentage of average earnings he expects to restore the earnings link to the basic state pension;
	(3)  how much the basic state pension is expressed as a percentage of national average earnings.

James Purnell: The following table sets out the value of the basic state pension as a percentage of national average earnings in the years requested.
	
		
			   Value of basic state pension as a percentage earnings of national average 
			 1981 23.7 
			 1991 18.3 
			 1997 17.0 
			 2006 15.7 
			 2012 14.2 
			  Notes: 1. The Average Earnings figure is for full-time employees in the April of that year and has been taken from the New Earnings Survey prior to 1998 and from Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings since 1998. 2. 2012 figures are consistent with assumptions underlying pre-Budget report 2006.  Source: ONS 
		
	
	Our objective is to restore the earnings link to the basic State Pension, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next parliament.
	At the time the earnings link is restored, the proportion the basic State Pension represents in terms of earnings will remain constant and it will continue to hold its value over time, relative to earnings.
	However, it is important not to focus on the figure that the basic State Pension represents as a percentage of average earnings in isolation.
	As a result of the measures we have introduced since 1997 pensioner incomes have risen by about 25 per cent. compared to 15 per cent. for earnings. These measures have made pensioners on average £17 a week better off and the poorest third of pensioners around £30 a week better off (in 2006-07 prices) than if an earnings link had been applied to the basic State Pension from 1997.
	Earnings uprating of the basic State Pension is only one part of the complete reform package. It should be considered alongside the reforms to the State Second Pension and the introduction of personal accounts for which the restoration of the earnings link provides a firm underpin.
	For instance, a median earner who works from age 25 to state pension age could expect a gross income (including from a Personal Account) of just under £220 per week(1) (in 2005-06 earnings term) in 2053 under the reformed system. This equates to 43 per cent. of average earnings(2) (also in 2005-06 earnings terms).
	(1 )The gross retirement income figure comes from DWP modelling, assuming weekly earnings of £440 (in 2005-06 earnings terms) for a median male earner.
	(2 )The Average Earnings figure is for all full-time employees, taken from the 2005 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and is equal to £516.40.

Personal Capability Assessments

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to consult disability organisations during the evaluation stage of the revised personal capability assessments pilots.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 6 December 2006
	Limited early testing of the revised personal capability assessment (PCA) has been carried out to ensure that the new assessment accurately identifies those with limited capability for work. The evaluation of these tests is being discussed with the technical working groups and the consultative groups which comprise largely of representatives from a number of disability organisations, who advised on the transformation of the PCA. A list of the groups' membership has been placed in the Library.
	Further evaluation of the revised PCA will take place in January and February 2007. During this time, we will continue to consult with the technical working groups and consultative groups who advised on the transformation of the PCA.

State Pension

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people elected not to claim their state old age pension in the most recent year for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The information requested is not available. Such information as is available indicates that 98 per cent. of pensioner benefit units were in receipt of some state pension in 2004-05. Those not in receipt may include pensioners who are deferring their state pension and those who have misreported the source of their income.
	 Source:
	Pensioner Income Series based on Family Resources Survey.

Unemployed: Background Information

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on  (a) qualifications held by and  (b) previous occupation of those registered as unemployed.

Jim Murphy: The information requested is not available.

Winter Fuel Payments

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Leicester South are in receipt of the winter fuel payment.

James Purnell: Last winter 2005-06, 11,370 households in Leicester South constituency received a winter fuel payment. We expect the number to be similar this winter.
	 Notes
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source
	Information Directorate 100 per cent. sample.

Winter Fuel Payments

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Livingston constituency received the winter fuel allowance in the last 12 months.

James Purnell: In the winter of 2005-06, 15,220 people in Livingston constituency received a winter fuel payment. Figures for this winter are not yet available but we expect the number to be similar.
	 Notes
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source
	Information Directorate 100 per cent. sample.

Winter Fuel Payments

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to change the qualifying dates for winter fuel payments; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The qualifying week is set in legislation as the third full week in September. We use this date to establish entitlement so that payments can be made before Christmas. The Government think that making payments by Christmas every year is helpful in reassuring pensioners that they will have cash available to pay for heating their homes during the coldest part of the year. We have no plans to change the qualifying week.

HEALTH

A and E Facilities

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the future of accident and emergency facilities.

Andy Burnham: No recent formal representations on the future of accident and emergency (A and E) facilities have been received. However, two separate proposals for changes to A and E facilities were referred to the Secretary of State by overview and scrutiny committees in 2005.
	The Secretary of State receives a very large number of letters and other correspondence from hon. Members which may mention, wholly or in part, the future of A and E facilities.

Abortions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were carried out in the Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust area on girls aged  (a) under 16 and  (b) between the ages of 16 and 18 in each year since 1999.

Caroline Flint: The available information is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Number of abortions to women under 19, resident in Gloucestershire( 1)  PCT, 2002( 2) -05 
			  Gloucestershire( 1)  PCT  Age under 16  Age 16 to 18 
			 2002 28 159 
			 2003 34 224 
			 2004 52 237 
			 2005 46 210 
			 (1 )Gloucestershire PCT is made up of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, Cotswold and Vale, and West Gloucestershire PCTs as published between 2002 and 2005. (2) Information by PCT is not available prior to 2002

Abortions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenage abortions were recorded in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the figures were in each of the five preceding years.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Abortions by age under 20, residents, England and Wales, 2000-05 
			  Age  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Under 14 162 148 168 148 157 137 
			 14 886 918 907 1,023 877 946 
			 15 2,700 2,592 2,658 2,796 2,722 2,703 
			 16 5,439 5,652 5,633 5,768 5,734 5,733 
			 17 7,895 7,963 8,083 8,387 8,402 8,504 
			 18 9,455 9,465 9,182 9,765 10,294 10,119 
			 19 10,429 10,351 10,087 10,327 10,956 10,957 
			 Total 36,966 37,089 36,718 38,214 39,142 39,099

Civil Emergencies

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the emergency healthcare needs of areas of national industrial and strategic importance.

Andy Burnham: It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency care services to meet people's needs. In planning local provision of urgent and emergency care services, health communities are expected to observe the general principle that all urgent and emergency care should be delivered as close to home as is compatible with clinical safety. There is a requirement for trusts to involve and consult the public on the planning for provision of health services.

Dentistry

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of orthodontic service provision in Hampshire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to assess local health needs and develop services to reflect those needs. The dental reforms introduced in April 2006 mean that, for the first time, PCTs have integrated responsibility for all national health service orthodontic services across both primary and secondary care and have much greater ability to shape these services to reflect local needs.

Departmental Event: Russell Hotel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of the 2-day event sponsored by her Department at the Russell Hotel, London; and if she will list the (i) invitees and (ii) attendees.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 January 2007
	The Chief Scientific Officer's conference, incorporating the healthcare scientist awards, was held at the Russell Hotel London on 27 and 28 November 2006. The total cost of this event was £130,000.
	The event was designed and delivered to meet the objectives set down by the Chief Scientific Officer, as part of the Department's remit to provide professional leadership to healthcare scientists in England.
	The purpose for the event was to bring the various disciplines of healthcare sciences together across the various national health service trusts and related organisations, presenting the latest scientific developments and their application to the delivery of healthcare in England. It was an opportunity to reinforce the critical role healthcare scientists play in supporting delivery of the 18-week target and to showcase world-class scientists working in cutting edge fields.
	The event was designed for senior healthcare scientists and healthcare scientist leads from NHS trusts, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, university faculties, independent sector and healthcare science advisors, workforce planners and special health authorities such as the Health Protection Agency, National Blood Service.
	Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 and in the context of the published privacy policy on the conference registration website, which has been placed in the Library, we will not be making the list of invitees and attendees available.

Depression

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) 50 to 64, (b) 65 to 74 and  (c) 75 years and over were treated for depression in each of the last 10 years, broken down by primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Disabled Children

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many disabled children aged up to two years require bulky medical equipment; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 22 January 2007
	This information is not collected centrally.

European Health Insurance Card

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data is stored on the European Health Insurance Card; and what the cost of the project is estimated to be in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: The only information on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the face readable information. There is no electronic data stored. The face readable information is as follows:
	name;
	given names;
	date of birth; and
	identification numbers used for administrative purposes (not linked to national insurance numbers, NHS numbers or any other personal data).
	The cost of implementing the EHIC was approximately £13.2 million and this includes all publicity costs and the issue of 17 million cards.

Health Appointments

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirement is made in the appointment of members of health authorities and trusts to ensure that individuals are appointed who have  (a) experience of public service and community involvement,  (b) live across the geographic area covered and  (c) include people who live in inner city and other deprived communities.

Rosie Winterton: The Appointments Commission is directed by the Secretary of State for Health to appoint people to national health service boards with a range of skills and experience, including those with a strong community service and/or voluntary sector background. They are also required, where possible, to appoint people from across the geographical area served by the body.

Health Appointments

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) name,  (b) postcode of residential address,  (c) age,  (d) gender,  (e) ethnicity,  (f) details of previous public service experience and  (g) party affiliation member of the (i) Sheffield Primary Care Trust, (ii) Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust, (iii) Sheffield Children's Hospital Trust and (iv) Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Health Authority.

Rosie Winterton: The appointment of chairs and non-executive directors of the primary care trusts and strategic health authorities has been delegated to the Appointments Commission and I have asked Sir William Wells, chair of the commission, to respond to my hon. Friend's question in relation to these bodies. Appointments to the boards of the foundation trusts are a matter for the board of governors.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what factors were taken into consideration when deciding to bring forward proposals to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 with regard to basic research; and what representations she has received on the proposals;
	(2)  what her Department's definition is of basic research in the context of its proposals to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; what types of research are covered by the definition; and what representations she has received on the definition;
	(3)  what factors were taken into consideration when deciding to bring forward proposals to amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to remove the restriction  (a) on altering the genetic structure of a cell while it forms part of an embryo and  (b) on replacing the nucleus of a cell of an embryo for research purposes only; and what representations she has received on the proposals.

Caroline Flint: A wide range of factors were taken into consideration in bringing forward proposals for revision of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, preceded by public consultation in 2005. With regard to embryo research, these factors included, "inter alia", recommendations from the House of Lords Stem Cell Committee (session 2001-02, HL Paper 83(i)), and the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (session 2004-05, HC 7-1), relevant legislation enacted since 1990, and the scope of delegated powers already within the 1990 Act itself.
	The proposals include revisions both to the purposes for which research projects using embryos may be licensed, and the scope of activities that may be authorised by a licence. These include the proposal to make clear that basic embryo research is permissible subject to controls. Basic research, in this context, refers to research that underpins or enables applied research into, for example, serious diseases.
	The Government's proposals and supporting rationale are set out in the command paper "Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: Proposals for revised legislation (including establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos)", published on 14 December (Command Paper 6989). Copies of which are available in the Library.

Intermediate Care

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she defines intermediate care.

Ivan Lewis: The term intermediate care describes services that meet all the following criteria:
	are targeted at people who would otherwise face unnecessarily prolonged hospital stays or inappropriate admission to acute in-patient care, long term residential care, or continuing NHS in-patient care;
	are provided on the basis of a comprehensive assessment, resulting in a structured individual care plan that involves active therapy, treatment or opportunity for recovery;
	have a planned outcome of maximising independence and typically enabling patient/users to resume living at home;
	are time-limited, normally no longer than six weeks and frequently as little as one-two weeks or less; and
	involve cross-professional working, with a single assessment framework, single professional records and shared protocols.

Mixed Wards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS wards do not currently have single-sex accommodation.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Between 1998 and 2005, the provision of single-sex accommodation was measured as compliance at national health service trust level with three objectives set by the Department. These objectives have been superseded by the core national standards presented in standards for better health.
	The core standards require that:
	(C13) "Staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect"; and
	(C20b) "Health care services are provided in environments which promote effective care and optimize health outcomes by being... supportive of patient privacy and confidentiality".
	Currently, five trusts report that they do not meet standard C13a and 15 trusts report that they do not meet standard C20b.
	Previously, compliance was measured annually at trust level. The results of the most recent compliance survey in December 2004 show that:
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity;
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill; and
	97 per cent. of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
	The small number of hospitals who did not achieve these objectives are building new hospitals.
	The 2004 position of each NHS trust was published on 26 May 2005 and is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk and in the Library.

Mosaic Project

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to her Department was of the Mosaic project; and what programmes operated over the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The Department provided £60,000 funding for the Mosaic project to deliver programmes developing, through pilot sites, good practice on race equality and procurement for dissemination within the national health service and providing procurement guidance on compliance with legal duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

National Breast Working Group

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) role and  (b) remit is of the Going further on cancer waits—National Breast Working Group; when the Group was established; how many times the Group has met; what reports the Group has made to Ministers; and what progress the Group has made towards realising the commitment made in the 2005 Labour Party General Election campaign that all people with breast problems would be seen within two weeks by 2008.

Rosie Winterton: The going further on cancer waits breast working group was established to consider the commitment set out in the Government's 2005 election manifesto to go further on cancer waiting times, in particular to consider how all patients with breast problems might be seen within two weeks of general practitioner referral to a specialist.
	The first meeting of the group was on 10 May 2006 and there have been two further meetings. The group reports to the National Cancer Director, and has made no reports to Ministers to date.
	Proposals for going further on cancer waits, including recommendations from the breast working group about seeing all patients with breast symptoms within two weeks, will now be taken forward as part of the cancer reform strategy being developed by the National Cancer Director, as announced on 30 November 2006.

NHS Pay and Workforce Strategy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to the public purse of the research conducted by Aberdeen university into the features of doctors' and nurses' labour markets, described in paragraph 28 of her Department's third draft of the NHS Pay and Workforce Strategy, dated 27 November 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The total cost of the research conducted by Aberdeen university was £35,000.

NHS Recruitment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes her Department supports to encourage students to take jobs within the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Responsibility for raising the profile of careers and working in the national health service is undertaken nationally by NHS Employers on behalf of the Department. The Department also provides non-repayable NHS bursaries and pays the tuition fees in full for the majority of NHS professional students undertaking programmes leading to professional registration.

NHS Redundancies

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many compulsory redundancies there were in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) trust and  (b) region.

Rosie Winterton: Strategic health authorities have provided an assessment of how many redundancies there have been in the six months to 30 September 2006. Returns for each region were submitted to the Department by 23 October 2006. These figures are available in the Library.

NHS Staff

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the total number of NHS staff working in the  (a) acute and  (b) community sectors in each year since 1997 by (i) headcount and (ii) full-time equivalent.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to divide the total number of national health service staff between the acute and community sectors as some staff groups overlap in both sectors.
	The non-medical workforce census does not show if staff are hospital or community based.

Physiotherapy

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of physiotherapy graduates in  (a) Shropshire and  (b) the West Midlands gained employment in the NHS in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

PSA Targets

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which statistics are used to determine whether her Department's public service agreement (PSA) targets have been met, broken down by PSA target; and which of these are classified as national statistics.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 15 January 2007
	The Department's public service agreement (PSA) incorporates technical notes which contain information about the statistics used to monitor progress towards meeting the Department's PSA targets. The technical notes are available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4133321&chk=xbJnjl
	A report by the independent Statistics Commission entitled "PSA Targets: the Devil in the Detail", which was published on 20 March 2006, contains an independent analysis of each Department's PSA targets, including notes on National Statistics classification. Copies of this report are available in the Library and can be accessed on the internet at:
	http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_467.aspx

Social Services

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of central Government grant to local government was for social services in Tunbridge Wells local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The provision of social services in the Tunbridge Wells area is the responsibility of Kent county council. Funding for local authorities' social service responsibilities are paid through formula grant (revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates) and specific grant. Formula grant is unhypothecated provision and decisions on the use of that grant are for local authorities to make, bearing in mind their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. Under the provisional local government finance settlement 2007-08, Kent county council receives a formula grant of £228.685 million, which is an increase of 2.7 per cent. on a like for like basis. In addition, Kent will receive the following revenue grants for adult social care amounting to £42.591 million:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Access and systems capacity 13.386 
			 Child and adolescent mental health services 1.786 
			 Carers grants 4.353 
			 Commission for Social Care Inspection 0.017 
			 Delayed discharge 2.477 
			 HR development strategy 1.082 
			 Improving management information 0.479 
			 Mental health grant 2.870 
			 National training strategy 2.335 
			 Preserved rights 12.217 
			 Preventative technology grant 1.245 
			 Mental Capacity Act and the independent mental capacity advocate 0.344

Statistics

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which statistics released by her Department and its agencies are classified as  (a) national statistics and  (b) official statistics; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: A list of the titles of all of the National Statistics produced by relevant Departments and agencies was placed in the Library on 8 January 2007 to accompany the second reading of the Statistics and Registration Bill. An equivalent list, which includes other statistical products not designated as National Statistics, was also placed on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ns_ons/nsproducts/default.asp
	These lists include all regular statistics released by the Department and by the information centre for health and social care, and they include National Statistics produced by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and by the commission for social care inspection.
	In addition to the regular statistics shown in the list on the National Statistics website, the Department and its associated agencies publish a wide range of other statistical information in a variety of forms including other data produced from the management and administration of the Department and in research reports. There is no centrally held information on the total published.
	We will keep under review the case for including more individual health and social care statistics in National Statistics scope.

Waiting Lists

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire waited for more than six months from GP referral for elective operations in the last period for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: At the end of November 2006, there were six patients waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment in Lancashire. These six patients are all in the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust area.

Waiting Lists

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average waiting times are for  (a) cardiac,  (b) kidney transplant and  (c) liver transplant operations in (i) the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust and (ii) each NHS trust in London.

Rosie Winterton: The tables show the average time waited for cardiac, kidney transplant and liver transplant operations in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust and each NHS trust in London for 2005-06. These are the latest figures available. Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust has never undertaken organ transplants.
	
		
			  Average time waited for cardiac, liver and kidney transplants in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust and each NHS trust in London NHS hospitals, England 2005-06 
			   Average (median) time waited in days 
			   Cardiac transplants  Kidney transplants  Liver transplants 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust — — — 
			 
			  All other London trusts
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust — 8 — 
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust — 8 — 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust — — — 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust — 2 — 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust — — 119 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust 67 — — 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 169 — — 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust — 19 — 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 281 — — 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time waited for all cardiac operations in the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust and each NHS trust in London NHS hospitals, England 2005-06 
			  NHS trust  Average (median) time waited in days 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 109 
			   
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust 66 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 23 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust — 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 6 
			 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 52 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 54 
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 41 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 72 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 12 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 42 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 67 
			 London Bridge Hospital 81 
			 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 85 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust — 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust — 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 6 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 36 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 24 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 45 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 92 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 47 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 69 
			 The Harley Street Clinic — 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 85 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust — 
			 The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust — 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 65 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust — 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 154 
			  Notes: 1. Main operation The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation. The OPCS-4.2 codes for liver transplant are as follows: J01.1 Orthotopic transplantation of liver J01.2 Heterotopic transplantation of liver J01.3 Replacement of previous liver transplant J01.8 Other specified transplantation of liver J01.9 Unspecified transplantation of liver The OPCS-4.2 codes for kidney transplant are as follows: M01.1 Autotransplantation of kidney M01.2 Allotransplantation of kidney from live donor M01.3 Allotransplantation of kidney from cadaver M01.8 Other specified transplantation of kidney M01.9 Unspecified transplantation of kidney The codes for cardiac transplants in OPCS-4.2 are as follows: K01.1 Allotransplantation of heart and lung K01.2 Revision of transplantation of heart and lung K01.8 Other specified transplantation of heart and lung K01.9 Unspecified transplantation of heart and lung K02.1 Allotransplantation of heart nec K02.2 Xenotransplantation of heart K02.3 Implantation of prosthetic heart K02.4 Piggy back transplantation of heart K02.5 Revision of implantation of prosthetic heart K02.6 Revision of transplantation of heart nec K02.8 Other specified other transplantation of heart K02.9 Unspecified other transplantation of heart The codes for all cardiac operations in OPCS-4.2 are as follows: All chapter K: K01-K71 2. Time waited (days) Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.  3. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Agency Staff

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what checks councils are required to make on the immigration status of temporary and agency staff employed via an agency.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 is the primary measure for combating illegal working. It provides employers with a statutory defence from conviction if they check and record certain specified documents belonging to potential employees. All employers in the UK, including councils, have a responsibility to ensure that they do not employ anyone who does not have leave to be in the UK and undertake the work in question.
	Where an employment agency employs people and provides their services to a user, then it is the responsibility of the employment agency to carry out proper document checks. Where an employment agency is simply recruiting people to be employed by a client, then it is the client's responsibility to carry out checks. Where there is any doubt about the employment relationship, we advise that both the employment agency and client should carry out checks.

Barker Report

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for  (a) a white paper,  (b) primary legislation and  (c) secondary legislation on planning reform following the publication of the Barker report.

Yvette Cooper: The White Paper will be published in spring 2007. It will set out the Government's detailed proposals, including in relation to primary and secondary legislation.

Barker Report

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Government will publish its response to the Barker report on land use planning.

Yvette Cooper: The Government will set out in a White Paper, in spring 2007, their proposals in response to Kate Barker's recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and for taking forward Kate Barker's and Rod Eddington's proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning.

Building Valuations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether the property attribute of area used in the Valuation Office Agency's Multiple Regional Analysis models relates to  (a) the floor area of the domestic building,  (b) the area of the footprint of the building and  (c) the total area of the property and surrounding land;
	(2)  whether the property attribute of ratio of plot size to area used in the Valuation Office Agency's Multiple Regional Analysis models measures  (a) the plot size of the footprint of the domestic building and  (b) the total floor space of the domestic building in relation to the area.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not have Multiple Regional Analysis models.

Conservation Areas

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's most recent estimate is of  (a) the number of domestic dwellings located in conservation areas in England and  (b) the number of conservation areas in England.

Yvette Cooper: Information on the number of dwellings within conservation areas is not held centrally.
	Conservation areas are designated by local planning authorities to English Heritage. The number of conservation areas was 9,374 at 30 September 2006 as published by English Heritage in "Heritage Counts 2006".

Correspondence

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter to her dated 18 December 2006 from the hon. Member for Reigate on planning policy statement 3.

Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to the hon. Member's letter.

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes the Valuation Office Agency has made to the  (a) number and  (b) type of individual (i) value significant codes and (ii) dwelling house codes since the decision to delay the council tax revaluation in England.

Phil Woolas: None.

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) titles and  (b) dates of publication were of the council tax instructions and advice notes and associated documents issued by the Valuation Office Agency to assist staff since January 2005.

Phil Woolas: Since January 2005 the Valuation Office Agency has issued two council tax instructions and advice (IA's):
	CT IA 010905—Council tax completion notice. This was issued on 1 September 2005.
	CT IA 241005—Recording and inputting property details as part of council tax maintenance and appeals work. This was issued on the 24 October 2005.

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the valuation tribunal service made an estimate in England of the number of council tax valuation appeals that would arise as a consequence of the council tax revaluation in England prior to its postponement.

Phil Woolas: The VTS estimated that there might be 1 million appeals from the revaluation, of which it was estimated 50,000 would require a hearing before a formal valuation tribunal panel.

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the anticipated cost was to the Valuation Tribunal Service of the council tax revaluation in England, prior to its postponement.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Tribunal Service estimated at around £l million the cost of developing their systems to handle appeals arising from the revaluation and for additional training for valuation tribunal members on the revaluation.

Egan Review of Skills

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of the  (a) recommendations and  (b) targets in the Egan Review of Skills (i) have yet to be met and (ii) are no longer being pursued.

Angela Smith: The Government gave a full response to the 24 recommendations of the Egan Review in August 2004, setting out how each would be taken forward and to what time scale. The Government have taken the actions to which it committed in respect of all the recommendations.
	Where target dates were set these have been met, with the exception of guidance for planning councillors (recommendation 12), which was published in 2005 rather than 2004, and the recommendation that Government and the Local Government Association review during 2006 the need for compulsory training of elected members (recommendation 20). This issue will be taken forward as part of the preparation of a national strategy for local improvement, as set out in the Local Government White Paper "Strong and Prosperous Communities".
	The Egan Review's major recommendation was to establish a National Centre for Sustainable Community Skills. In response to this, the Government have established the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC), which is currently delivering a number of key Egan recommendations, including promoting generic skills, cross sector working and encouraging entrants into the core occupations. In December, the ASC launched a set of joint commitments with major national institutions, influencing the learning and professional development of 100,000 core professionals.

English Regional Chambers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the latest accounts produced by the English regional chambers that were produced under the Accountable Body arrangements.

Yvette Cooper: I have arranged for copies of the latest regional assembly accounts to be placed in the Library of the House.

EU Directive 2002/91/EC

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 463-64W, on EU Directive 2002/91/EC, whether the  (a) European Commission and  (b) European Parliament produced an impact assessment for the directive.

Yvette Cooper: This question is a matter for the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total expected public expenditure is on payments to  (a) PA Consulting Group and  (b) Xansa UK Ltd in relation to home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: PA Consulting Group have been used across a wide range of activities associated with the delivery of HIPs, primarily on the design and procurement of the HCR Register, the Certification Scheme, the Dry Run and the area trials. We anticipate that a total of £2.5 million will be paid to PA Consulting.
	The payment to Xansa has been £69,000. No further payments are anticipated.

Home Inspectors

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria must be met for a potential home inspector to be classified as in training under her Department's definition.

Yvette Cooper: Figures on the number and status of candidates are reported regularly by the individual assessment centres on a voluntary basis.
	The definition of 'in training' is taken from the information they provide. These are candidates who are reported by the assessment centre as having been registered with them to undertake the qualification and have not yet been assessed successfully against all the required modules of their course.

Housing Targets

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has issued to arms length management organisations in the last six months on meeting Decent Homes Standard targets.

Yvette Cooper: The most recent guidance we have issued on meeting Decent Homes standard targets is the written statement that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, made to the House on 7 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 27-29WS. On the same day we also published "The Decent Home : Definition and guidance for implementation" to update guidance published in February 2004; a "Supplement to Guidance on Arms Length Management", supplementing guidance published in October 2004 for local authorities wishing to apply for places on the ALMO programme; and a discussion paper entitled "From Decent Homes to Sustainable Communities". Ministers and officials also correspond frequently with individual or groups of ALMOs about their Decent Homes plans and have continued to do so over the last six months.

Language Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the amount of money spent on interpreters by local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made a recent estimate of the amount of money spent on interpreters by local authorities. Local authorities are accountable for this spend, but the Secretary of State is committed to working with them to look at the issue and consider balancing this to give a greater focus on promoting community cohesion. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report due in June 2007.

Language Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the amount of money spent by local authorities on providing information in foreign languages; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made any recent estimate of the amount spent by local authorities on providing information in foreign languages. Local authorities are accountable for this spend, but the Secretary of State is committed to working with them to look at the issue and consider balancing this to give a greater focus on promoting community cohesion. My right hon. Friend has therefore asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report due in June 2007.

Language Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much money her Department provided to local authorities to translate documents into languages other than English in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: This information is not available as the Department's statistical data collections from local authorities do not separately identify expenditure on translation services and therefore the information could be collated only at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State has asked the Commission on Integration and Cohesion to consider this issue as part of its report that is due in June 2007.

Local Government

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which London local authorities do not participate in the notify scheme.

Phil Woolas: Notify is a voluntary scheme unique to London developed by the GLA and London councils. 23 London boroughs are loading information about their homeless households in temporary accommodation onto the notify system. This accounts for 72 per cent. of the households placed in temporary accommodation. The remaining 10 boroughs— Bromley, City of London, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Kingston upon Thames, Newham, Redbridge, Sutton and Wandsworth have formally signed up to participating in notify—and are providing sample information for testing and are using the system to view information about homeless households placed in temporary accommodation in their area by other London local authorities, or intend to load information once their boroughs' new IT systems are fully operational.

Lyons Review

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Sir Michael Lyons will receive additional remuneration following the decision to postpone his report's publication to March 2007.

Phil Woolas: Yes. He will receive an additional fee of £40,000 (plus VAT).

Ministerial Travel

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on foreign travel by each Minister in her Department other than the Secretary of State in 2005-06; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) destination was of each journey.

Angela Smith: All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on 24 July 2006. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year in the Library of the House.

ODPM Hospitality

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's expenditure on hospitality and entertainment was in 2005-06.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2006,  Official Report, column 867W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman).

Parish and Town Councils

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's estimate is of the revenue from  (a) parish and  (b) town council precepts on council tax in each year since 1997-98.

Phil Woolas: The total amounts of local precepts issued for each financial year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table. The figures represent the amounts issued by local precepting authorities, or anticipated by the relevant billing authority. Local precepting authorities comprise parish and town councils and similar bodies, such as parish meetings and charter trustees. The information collected by the Department is not detailed enough to allow amounts precepted by parish councils and by town councils to be separately identified. Such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 1997-98 144 
			 1998-99 154 
			 1999-2000 165 
			 2000-01 181 
			 2001-02 193 
			 2002-03 210 
			 2003-04 226 
			 2004-05 242 
			 2005-06 260 
			 2006-07 282 
			  Source: BR1 returns from billing authorities.

Property Sales Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to increase the powers of the Valuation Office Agency to access property sales information produced since 2000.

Phil Woolas: None.

Recycled Water

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to ensure the maximum recovery and recycling of grey water in  (a) the development of new sustainable communities and  (b) regeneration of existing communities.

Angela Smith: On 13 December we published a consultation paper on water efficiency. The standards which it proposes will not usually require facilities for recycling water. However, savings from recycling could be used to balance the effects of appliances that use a large amount of water.
	On the same day we published the Code for Sustainable Homes. The code sets out six levels of performance, with minimum standards for water and energy efficiency at each level. It does not prescribe which technologies are needed to achieve each level—allowing home builders the flexibility to innovate.
	We are currently carrying out a study on the sustainability of existing buildings. We expect to report on this in the summer.

Telecommunications Masts

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to introduce full planning procedures in respect of the installation of mobile masts and equipment.

Meg Munn: holding answer 23 January 2007
	All ground-based masts are already subject to planning control. For masts under 15 m in height, a prior approval application is required. If the local authority considers that the development will pose a serious threat to amenity, it is able to refuse approval. For masts over 15 m in height, a full planning application is required. In reality, the prior approval and full planning application processes are very similar. The prior approval for masts under 15 m simply means the local planning authority has only eight weeks in which to decide the application. In addition, when the Government published the revised planning policy guidance 8, we strengthened public consultation requirements for prior approval so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission.
	Network operators estimate that only around a third of installations are under their permitted development rights. These installations are, by definition, the smallest and most discreet of developments. The current arrangements also encourage network operators to install smaller apparatus on existing buildings and structures wherever possible, which minimises the environmental impact of such developments. Furthermore, simply because these small developments do not need planning permission does not mean that there is no public consultation. The Code of Best Practice that was produced jointly by central and local government and the mobile phone industry is clear that operators will assess every potential site and rate it using the "Traffic Light Model". The Traffic Light Model allows a site to be rated according to its likely sensitivity in terms of environmental, planning and community considerations. This model determines the level of public consultation that will be required if the site is selected for the installation.
	Each autumn, the Mobile Operators Association sends every local planning authority the details of the five operators' network development plans for their area. These are called roll-out plans. Roll-out plans are the principal means for the operators to inform local planning authorities of their network development plans for the forthcoming year. It is good practice for local planning authorities to have discussions with respective operators. These discussions can ensure that local issues are addressed at an early stage and make sure that the most appropriate solutions are found for individual developments. I wrote to all MPs at the end of last year to bring their attention to the latest round of roll-out plans and to encourage them to find out whether their local planning authority has had discussions with operators following receipt of these plans.
	It is important that local planning authorities focus their attention on those developments that will have the greatest impact. We believe that, in this case, we have the balance between impact and scrutiny right. Nevertheless, we are keeping this under review in consultation with the operators and other key stakeholders.

Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what discussions have taken place between her Department and the Department for Transport on the funding shortfall in the budget of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority and its concessionary travel schemes;
	(2)  if she will provide retrospective funding to Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority to make up for the shortfall in funding for the concessionary bus travel scheme.

Phil Woolas: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 9 January 2007,  Official Report, column 474W, which sets out the discussions our Departments have had on this issue. The Government have provided significant additional funding for local authorities in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for all local services including local authorities' responsibilities for concessionary travel schemes. The Local Government Finance Settlement 2007-08 provides for an increase in Government grant of£3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent. on a like for like basis.

Valuation Office Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data the Valuation Office Agency has  (a) provided to and  (b) received from Ordnance Survey in the last two years.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Valuation Office Agency has supplied samples of the non-domestic rating list and addresses drawn from the valuation list, followed by compilations of similar data covering the whole of England and Wales.
	 (b) The data received from Ordnance Survey by the Valuation Office Agency is:
	Land Line;
	MasterMap;
	1:10,000 Scale Black and White Raster Map;
	1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 Scales Colour Raster Map;
	Postcode Map; and
	Boundary-Line.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Valuation Office Agency spent on products from Ordnance Survey in each year since 1997-98.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency pays for access to Ordnance Survey's digital mapping products. This is the only material purchased by the agency.
	The total amounts paid by the Valuation Office Agency for these products provided by Ordnance Survey for the years 1997-98 to 2002-03 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The amounts paid in subsequent years are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 375,000.00 
			 2004-05 375,000.00 
			 2005-06 375,000.00 
			 2006-07 405,750.00

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library the internal guidance used by the Valuation Office Agency on the measurement of floor space of domestic properties for council tax valuation purposes.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency's (VOA's) "Guide to Measuring for Council Tax Purposes", which is based on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Code of Measuring Practice, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Variography and Pictometry Techniques

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration the Valuation Office Agency has made of using  (a) variography and  (b) pictometry techniques.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) None.
	 (b) None.

Zero-carbon Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of zero-carbon homes in England.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not collect this information centrally. The number of zero carbon homes built is currently very small. The code for sustainable housing and the new planning policy statement are designed to cut carbon emissions from new homes, and promote far more zero carbon homes until within 10 years all new homes built are zero carbon.